
Class |r_L^ ' — 

Copyright N° - 

coFVRiGirr nEPosir. 



ISTORICAli 




SOUVENIR * « « 



OF 



EXICO. N. Y. 



KITV 



/ 



"GRIP'S" 

Historical Souvenir of }Aexico, fi. Y. 



LIBRARVol CONGRESS 
Two Corjes,«Rtte>ved-_ 

APK ri }180JI*. 

CooyrteM Entry 

CLASS (^"XKl. No." 

COPY B 






'•H'"i"SfORicAh''SouvEr4iR Series. Ho. 15 



MEXICO. OSWEGO CO..flN^ VICINITY 



•■'11 11 : AKIK >H \ II .l.A< il 



ri.pyriKliiid. 
■'('•fip." UliM'in.niiitr A\'f.. S>'i'ai.»isr, N. \ . 



III.l.lSTKATF.Dl 




Duinvick, I'linli). 



MAIN STUKKT. Siir 111 >ll)l:. 
Ik-IWLH-M ilnircii iid'i .li.lVrrsim Sln-L'ts. 



MIOXICO, located as it is in tlip center nf a 
wealthy agricultural region, has steadily 
risen in importance until today it is one of 
the jirettiest and most tlirivint; villages of Oswego 
oounty. 

Il.s citizens ])oint with a just i)ride to its fine 
churches, hotels, schools, mills, stores, creiiniery 
and canning factory; its niiicliiue ami w:igon 
shop.s. 

\vu\ < s|)cciully are its citizens ]>roud of their 
well pavi'il streets and the large anioiiuf of cement 
sidewalks thai atfruct the attention and elicit the 
nnfVigniMl admiration of all visitors to this lieanfi- 
ful village. 

Hut where Mexico, the lovliest village of the 
north, excels, is in her heautiful modern homes 
and their clean, orderly and attractive environ- 
ments, together with an ahundance of foHage and 
shrnhliery — in fact the arhoreal heauty of this en- 
ticing place should give to it the designation, 
indeed mo.Ht appropriate, of Al'bor Villag*'. 

Her residents include a large cla.ss of jieojile 
well known in Society of Ontral New York. 
'I'hey are, as the rule, people who have pro.spered 
and are well proxiilcd wifli this world's goods. 



Alany of them are retired from active Imsiness 
life, whose children — the men and women of the 
future — are getting the l)est of modern eilncational 
facilities. 

For many years Mexico village, a center of re- 
finement, has licen a leader among the villages of 
Oswego county in eilucation. Tlie aca<lemy, 
founded in the lieginning of the l:ist century, hiis 
sent to all ))artsof this eounlry the graduates from 
her class rooms, who liave distinguisheil them- 
selves in many high walks in life and reflected 
credit on fheir alma mater and the village of their 
youth. 

It was here that an otlicer in the L'nited States 
army, Col. Richards, whose home is in this village, 
(Tame under authority of the war department, a 
few years ago, and estalilished and conducted a 
military school, which, until it was succeeded l)y 
the present i>nl>lic school, was cjU'ried on in an 
admirable and intelligent manner. 

The region which contrilmtes to the prosperity 
of Mexico consi.sts of splendid farms and an intel- 
ligent agricultural community. The roads in the 
town, itself, as well lus the village, are kept in 
good condition. 



"GEIP'S" HI8T0RICAI. SOUVENIE OF MEXICO. 



Mexico is a stiitiou on the Oswego and Richland 
branch of the E. W. A: O. raih-oatl system, leas- 
ed by the New York (!eutial * Hudson River 
railroad. It is 9 miles west of Pulaski and 1(1 
miles east of Oswego, situated but 3 miles from 
Lake Ontario at the forks of a stream which 
empties into the lake at Mexico Point, and 45 
miles (by rail) north of Syracuse. 

HISTORY OP MEXICO 



[t. w. skinner] 
The town of Mexico, once the largest of towns 
[See "Mexico Mother of Towns" on another page] 
is now reduced to Township No. 20 of Scriba's 
Patent and a small portion of Townships Nos. 19 
and '21. and contains l2S,'J17 acres of land. 



1798, when by the loss of their vessel, seven strong 
men, heads of families, were drowned near Mexico 
Point, had a dejjressing influence on the early 
settlers and the uumlier of families dwindled to 
six. No other vessel was Vmilt there; but the store 
and mill remained, and in a later year, it was 
stated, more goods were sold there than at Oswego 
or Utica. The early settlers located along Scriba's 
road and this was their most convenient trading 
point. It finally became the resort of successful 
smugglers and tradition implicates some of the 
inhabitants of the town in that illegal traffic. 
Xathauiel Rood was the first white settler inside 
the corjioration limits of Mexico village, and his 
son, Truman Rood, was the first white child born 
in this town. Nathaniel w as one of the victims 
of the lake disaster, and Truman <lied at Colosse 
in 1877. 

In the vear ISO! th<>re was a large influx of 




l)Qn\viuk. riiotu. 



-MAIN .^TliEKT. \V 1;<T FlInM .1 EFFEltSI IN .STliKKT. 



The first road was one opened by Mr. Scriba in 
1795, from what is now Mexico Point to the vil- 
lage of Constautia. Mr. Scriba received his patent 
Dec, 179i, an<l the laud was surveyed into town- 
shijis. The first settlement in the town was made 
in 1795, the same year that great road was opened. 

Calvin Titlany and Phineas Davis became resi- 
dents of the town, Jan. 20, 1799. They moved 
from Connecticut on a sled di-awn by two yoke of 
oxen and for a year occupied jointly a single log 
cabin. ]Mr. Titlany settled on the above named 
roa<l on Lot No. 55 and ojiened his house as a 
tavern near the present Dewey cheese factory. 
Here was held the first town meeting and the first 
meetuig of the Board of Supervisors of Oswego 
county ; and many of the early religious services 
were held there. 

Mr. Davis settled in the boimds of the ])resent 
village and died in 1844. The great calamity of 



settlers, and among them were Asa Beebe, Joel 
Savage, Joseph Lamb, Peter Pratt, Noah Smith, 
Oliver Richardson, Leonard Ames, Solomon Hunt- 
ington and others. Asa Beebe became a jsromi- 
nent business man of the vLUage of Mexico. 
Oliver Richardson was the father of Alvin and 
John M. Richardson, the latter of whom became 
member of assemlily from this county. Solomon 
Huntington settled near Union Square in this 
town and erected a tavern which he kept during 
the war of 1812. He came from Connecticut and 
as slavery had not been abolished in that state or in 
New York he brought with him a young colored boy 
aliout 16 years of age, whom he owned as a .slave 
and treated with great kindness until he died a 
few years later and was buried on the family btu'ial 
lot in the Union Sipiare cemetery. 

The village of Colosse in this town at an early 
date was a very prosperous place of business and 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Iiiniv 



irk. I'll.. I. 



MAIN srilKKT. KAST KUUM LAWTiiN It KSll )K.N( 'I-; 



ii grciit riviil (if tli<' village of Mexico. The post- 
ollicc at Colosse \va.s oue of the first in the county, 
it Ix'iiif; on the old mail route between Syracuse 
anil Wntertown, and on the mail route to Camden. 
The mail was carried each way once a week liy 
Dexter Howard, ou horseback. Colosse also had 
the first cheese factory in the county. The Ba]i- 
tist church built there in IHliO was the first church 
in town and the first liaptist church in the county- 
.Vft<'rwards, when Alexico villajje took the lead, 
many of tlie busiji(>ss men of Colosse came to 
Mexico, among wluuu were Heurv and (Charles 
Webb and Dr. (i. A. Dayton. 

Mexico village was ()rigin:dly called Mexicoville 
and Nathaniel Kood was the first settler. In l.S]^ 
there were only seven houses. The first frame 
house was built by Shubal .\lfred and his house 
and barn were both used 
at difl'erent times for 
school purposes. The 
house was the place where 
the Masons held their 
lirst meeting. 

The hrst mill for grind- 
ing gi'aiu was built by 
John Mortcui, who was 
succeeded by M. Whitney 
and Dennis Peck. Wil- 
liam S.Filch keptthe first 
store and Mr. Whitney 
the first hotel; Bazalecl 
Thayer the first carding 
and cloth dressing mill 
and .lobn Wood the first 
tannery. 

Till' town of Mexico hius 
been honored with a 
good share of stat<! and 
county oflic^es. Klias 
Hrewstei-, of Prattham, 
wius the first surrogate, in 
1810; Peter Pratt, of 
Prattinim, was the second 
sheriff, in l«l!);the other 



sherifts from the town 
were Alvin I>awreu<'e and 
l-Mwin Ii. Iliuitington. 
The county judges have 
liren Avery Skiiiner,()rla 
II. Whitney and Maurice 
L. Wright. The suito- 
gates from this town 
alter Mr. Hrewster were 
.Joseph Torrey, Orville 
Kobinson, ( )rla H. Whit 
ney and Timothy W. Skin- 
ner. The members of 
assembly were Orville 
Kiibinson,.\very Skinner, 
Ijuke 1). Smith, Leonard 
Ames. Dcwitt ('. Peek. 
.\lvin llichardson and 
.lohu M. Richardson. 

Cieorge (J. French was 
district attorney and 
Uewitt C. Peck,'W. S. 
(ioodell, John W. Ladd 
and Ida (iritfin were 
school ciimmissioners. 
Dr. GiLson .\.Daytim was 
state canal auditor and 
Avery Skinner was state senator and a member of 
the state"court for the correction of errors,"which, 
under the old con.stitution wivs analagous to the 
])reseiit court of aii])eals. Jfexico being the geo- 
graphical center of the county all the county con- 
ventions of both |)()litical jiarties were always held 
in this town until a few years ago when, in conse- 
quence of the convenience of railroads the cim- 
ventions have met at Oswego ami Pulaski. 

Mexico, Mother of To'wns.-The grandeur of 
the domains of the town of Mexico, embraced in 
the boundaries jireseuted by the legislature in 
17!)2 and rearranged in I T'.M!, can best be a])])re- 
ciaf«'d by glancing at a modern mu]i and faking an 
inventory of the remarkably great number of civil 
divisions —counties, parts of counties and towns — 
which have been cavved therefmiu. 




biinwU'k, rill 



lt.\ir,ll().\l) STRF.KT, MiKTI! FlinM rE.METERY STKEET. 



'GEIP'S" HI8TOKICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Duiiwi^'k, riiutu. 



WAtiHlXGTUN STKEliT, .SIH Til lUoM MAIN STliEET 



It will he seen that Mexico has fairly earned 
the (listiiiftidn of "Mother of Towns." Not only 
that, but the most fertile acres, the most historic 
localities and to-day the most popular section of 
Central New York was first comprised in the town 
of Mexico. 

The orginal town, erected in 1792, extended in 
the greatest direction to the nortli and south, witli 
a coast line on Lake Ontario of about thirty miles 
and reiM^hing' almost to the state of Pennsylvania. 
Four years later, the legislature deeming a re- 
adjustment of its boundaries necessary to l)etter 
acconiniodate the several groups of settlements for 
the purpose of civil government, elongated the 
town to the east and west,addingtwenty-tive miles 
I if lake sliore in the east and ciitting off all west of 
the Oswego river. Tliis netted Jlexico forty-tive 
miles of lake coast, more than the state of Penn- 
sylvania possesses on Lake Erie or New Hamji- 
.slnre on the AtLmtic. At 
the same time Mexico 
was chopped off along 
Oneida lake and river, and 
stretched out on the eaht 
to include tlienew settle- 
ments along Black river 
and the ])aths leading 
into the intervening sec- 
tions from lAirt Stanwix. 

Whereas it had former- 
ly included the counties 
of Onondaga and Cort- 
land, it now being de- 
tached from that terri- 
tory was united with 'he 
vast stretches of gladi s 
and woodland now com- 
jirised in the counties of 
•lefl'ersou, Lewis and 
( )neida. ( )ne reason for 
the annexation of thi^ 
new territory (179(1) was to 
include all of the Scriba 
patent, the owner of 
which liad then begun 



extensive plans for erect- 
ing a city on the shore of 
Lake ( )ntario at VeraCruz 
which he intend(>d to 
connect with his new city 
of Rotterdam on the 
shore of Oneida lake with 
a broad, well constructed 
highway and wliicli favor- 
ed the enlargement of the 
limits of the town of 
Mexico to bring both 
pl.aces within the same 
town. The village of 
lYotterdain (Constantia) 
was made the caiiital of 
the new town and it was 
there at the house of 
John Meyer that the first 
town meeting was de- 
creed by law. 

Beginning with the dis- 
memberment of Mexico 
in the south, two years 
earher, when Onondaga 
county Wius formed (1 794), 
there foUowed an inter- 
val of two years during which Mexico was re- 
stricted to boundries within the present county of 
Oswego, Then with the annexation of the east- 
ern and northern territory began the breaking up 
of Mexico into new towns, continuing year after 
year until it was finally in l.S3(i, reduced to its 
present size, a still large and flourishing town al- 
most in the heart of the old town; giving birth to 
a numerous progeny of municipalities, three 
counties and eighty towns, which to-day include a 
population of nearly 400,000, having a boundary 
of about 400 miles in extent. 

The names of these several municii)alities, which 
should call ^lexico mother, are as follows; 

Oswego Co., Amboy, Albion, Boylston, Con- 
stantia, Hannibal, Granby, Hastings, Mexico, New 
Haven, Oswego, Orwell, Parish, Palermo, Red- 
tield, Iiichhind, Schneppel, Scriba, Sandy Creek, 
Volnev, Williamstown, SVest Monroe. 




Itiimv'irk. Plioti 



\V.\TH1{ STREET, SOl'TH I'KIIM .MAI.N .STUKHT. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Ououdiiga Co., Cliiy, Cicero, Cainillus, Do Wilt, 
Klbridge, Fiiliiiis, (Jedili's, Lafayette, T^vsamler, 
Mauliiis, Mareelln.s, Otiseo, Ou(iii(l:ip;a, I'mnin'V, 
Saliiia, Si)alV(ir<l in |iiii-t, Skaueateles, Tiilly, Van 
IJnren. 

Cortlnml Co.. Cnrllamlville, Cuvler, Ciucin- 
nilUls, Freetown, Harfonl, Jlomer, Ijapcer, 



Maiathon, Prelile, Solon, Meott, Taylor, Trnxton, 
Virgil, Willef. 

Oneida (!o., Aiinsville, C'anulen, I'lorenee and 
Vienna and ])art- of .\va, Lee and Home. 

Le\vi.s Co., Dennntrk, Harrislmrj^h, High 
^laiket, Lowville, Leyden in ])art, Maitinlmrgb, 
;\Iontagne, Osceola, I'inekuey, Turin. West Turin. 




IMjiiwIrk. I'li.ili 



.M .\ (I M K I (■ i; .S '1 ST K KETS. 



Npiliii! Mrecl. Iiel« n \Viishiii,r|,i„ ,,11 I clniiili SI ni-ts. — Ithiik Cii-ik ri.ii.l. Iiiim Main Slnit. 

A 11 II Sln-i-t, \\eHl l-.iiii: Kiillcni hihI oswi-., U.aiN. Pul.iski U..!i.l. liH.kiiij; In. 111 Knsl Hill. 

<.,i,,,V.V,'\m..'''''' .I' '.■'''''''','■''■'''■''. (■""'■"I ''"'I* H"lel): J'ulaski aml.lnion S<iuan- Koiuls.-Lillle 

M'l 11 luvi-r, north Irimi .Main Stre.l niidite. 

.Main .Street KnsI Irnm |)|nek Creek llriiiifc. Main Street. East from Cliiircli Street (old Town Hall). 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



JeUcrsoii (!()., A<l,ams, Chiimpion, Ellisburg, 
Houiistii'ld, Ht'iKk'rpiiii, Lorraine, Eutlaml, Wiiter- 
town and Wortli. 

In this work the ilistineticm lietween ^lexico 
erected in 171(2 and reereeted in ITStli, is niude by 
the u=e of the terms, ]\Iexico of 1792 and Mexico 
of I7!tii, each cif which is described more fully on 
(ithrr |)iiges. 



First County Officers. — The "Council of Ap- 
pointment" named the first county officers for Os- 
wego county in 1816, viz: Judge, Burnet Moouey; 
associate judges, Henry Williams, Smith Dunlap, 
r. D. Huguniu, David Eastou, Edmund Hawks; 
surrogate, lilias Brewster; county clerk, James 
Adams; shei'iff', John S. Davis. 




liuiiwiLk. I'hotn. IIIOAI' riiri, liE.siUENlK .sTlti;ETS. 

Jett'ersoii Street, Noi-tli rniiu .M;iiii Street.— North Street, North from East Park (.Main .Strec'.) 

Kailroad Street, North from Main Street.— Oswe}i:o Couuty Poor House. 

Ames Street (fair ground road).— Mill Street, South from Main Street. 

South Jefferson Street, North from Spring Street.— Wayne Street, South from Main Street. 



8 



"GRIP'rt" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Timothy W. Skinner was bom at Union 
Siiuare, Oswego comity, X. Y., April 24, 1827. 
His grnmlfiither, Timothy Kkinnci-, was a revo- 
lutionai'y soldier and Lis f,'raudl'atber on Iiis 
mother's side was Solomon Huntington, who eanie 
from Connecticut and settled in the town of Mexi- 
co in 1804, ami who was a near relative of Samuel 
Huntington, a signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence and ju'esident of the Continental Con- 
gress. His fatlier was the Hon. Avery Skinner, 
one of the pioneers of the northern section of this 
state, having come to Watertown from New 




HinTownl Cut. 



W. WKINNKK. 



Ilistdi-ian "Grips" Historical Simvcnir nl .Mixii 

Haiiipsliire in 181li. He afterwards settled at 
Union Square and became one of tlie most promi- 
nent men of the county. T. W. Skinner spent 
the first twenty-five years of his life on his father's 
farm, teaching school in winter and having charge 
of thi' farm in the summer. In \Hr>2 he wtis 
elected justice of the peace and served for two 
terms, in 1H."):{ he moved to the village of Mexico 
where he has since resided. In 1S.">7 Mr. Skinner 
was admitted to the bar and in November of the 
same year joineil with .lu<lge Cyrus Wliitney in 
the organization of the law ami banking linn of 
Whitnev A- Skinner, .\fter this firm was dissolved 



in ISTtl by the removal of Judge Whitney to Os- 
wego, Mr. Skinner took his brother-in-law, 
Maurice L. Wright, now justice of the supreme 
court, as his partner, under the firm name of 
Skinner \' Wriglit and the partnership continued 
until 1880. Since then Mr. Skinner has continued 
in the active duties of his j)rofessiou and is to-day, 
at the age of 76, one of the olde&t and most 
widely known members of the legid fraternity in 
active practice in this county. No one has been 
longer connected w ith the polities of the county 
than Mr. Skinner. He was elected nunogate in 
18fi:i, again in 1870 and re-elected 
in 187(1, thus .serving as surrogate 
three terms — the longest time that 
any who have fiUed that ofKce 
have held it in this county. He 
has always taken the deepest in- 
terest in the atVairs of the village 
of Mexico: has served as its presi- 
dent and was for many years one 
of the trustees of the old historic 
Mexico Academy. He is also 
prominent in JNIasonic circles and 
has been High Priest of the ;\Iex- 
ico Chaiiter for a long term of 
years and is now the oldest Mason 
in town. Mr. Skinner is the old- 
est of a family of nine. His oldest 
sister, Eliza, now deceased, mar- 
ried Charles Richardson of Colos.se ; 
his brother. Albert T. Skinner, 
also deceased, was superintendent 
of Walter A. Wood blowing 
^laehine (lo., of Hoo.sic Falls. Of 
the brothers and sisters now living, 
the Hon. Charles R. Skinner of 
.Albany, is Superintendent of 
Pnblic Instrni'tion of this state; 
the Rev. .lames X. Skinner is an 
Episcopal cleigyinan in New York, 
and Mrs. >Iaurice li. Wright of 
Oswego is the wife of Hon. M. Ti. 
Wriglit of the siiineme court. In 
IS.")!; Mr. Skinner married Kliza- 
lieth Calkins who died in bStil, 
leaving one daughter who is now 
Mrs. .1. li. Stone of .\uburii, N. Y. 
In 18(')2 lie married Sarah L. 
Rose and their children were .Vuua 
({race Skinner, who died Dec. 24. 
bsi)4, and Avery Warner Skinner 
who is now snpei-inteiident of the 
schools of the city of Oneida. 

Mexico of 1792; its boundaries; 
including the first clear, accurate 
description of tlie original to«ii 
ever piibli.shed. Mexi<'0, then the largest ol 
all towns, was erei^ted from Whitestown, then in 
Herkimer coiuity, April 10, 1792, its boundaries 
being (h'fined as follows: ".\11 that jiart i>f Wliites- 
town bounded on the Ka.st by the east bounds of 
tlie ^Military tract and a line drawn north from 
the mouth of ('aiiaserago | Chitt«'naiigo| creek 
across Oneida lake to Lake Ontario; on the South 
by Tioga connty ; on the West by the west bounds 
of Homer, Tully, Marcellus, Camillas, Lysander 
and Hannibal of said Military tract, and on the 
North bv Lake Ontario." 



"GBIP'ji" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



9 




lliniwiik. I'hol,,. r. W, SKINNKICS ItMSI [)E.\< 'Iv 

Tiiking a map of the jireseut time tlie bonudary 
will lie seen to riiu as follows: Beginiiiii^' at the 
mouth of Salmon river and running west along the 
south shore of Lake Ontario to the western 
boundary of Oswego county, it followed south the 
west bounds of Oswego and Onond.iga oouuties to 
the south-west corner of the town of iSkaneateles. 
( )noii(higa county; then followed a direct easterly 
course along the southern boundary of that town, 
cr<issing the head of Skaneateles lake and cutting 
oti' the south-west corner of the town of Siiafiiird, 
Onondaga county, a piece six miles east and west 
and two miles north and soutli. striking the west 
shore of Otiseo lake o|iposite the village of Zea- 
land. Then turning south 
it jiursued a direct course, 
rei'rossing Skaneateles 
lake and following the 
west boundary of the 
county of Cortland to a 
jioint nearly two miles 
north of its southern 
boundary. There, re- 
suming itsea.stern course, 
leaving out a strip of 
the south end of Cortland 
county two mdes deep 
and extending to the 
Tioughnioga river, it 
passed through the main 
stret>t of the village of 
■ Marathon running a short 
di.stan<-e north of Hunts 
Corners and through the 
village of Hartford. Then 
it again went south fol- 
lowing the Tionghnioga 
river to tlie south line of 
(he county. From that 
]ioint it foUowed the 
south and east boundar- 
ies of t!ortland and the 
east boundary of Onon- 
ilaga counties to the 
nioutli of Chittenango 
ci'eek. ('rossing Oneida 



lake it pursued a nortli- 
we terly course to the 
place of the beginning; 
passing through the town 
of Coustantia, the nortli- 
west corner of West Mon- 
roe, the town Hastings, 
a few rods east of Hastings 
station, the town of 
Parish, cutting througli 
th(> center of Parish \il- 
lage, and the town of Mex- 
ico, crossing the lour 
corners in the \illage of 
Daysville. 

The iict which created 
the town provided tliat 
the tir.st loan meeting 
should be held in May, 
IT'.tli. at the house of Heii- 
jainin Morehouse, which 
stood near the present 
village of Jamcsville, 
Onondaga county. 

The greatest width of 
this immense town was 
21) miles, on a line crossing the towns of Skanea- 
teles, Marcellus, Onondaga — passing through the 
Indian re.servation — Lafayette and Pompey. Its 
greatest lengtli, measuring from the Salmon river 
du'ect to tha SDuth-east bonmlary of Cortland 
county, was S'l miles. 

In Oswego county it included nine complete 
towns, Scriba, Volney, Oswego, Hannibal, Granby, 
Schneppel, Palermo, New Haven and Mexico, 
and part of five other.s, Hastings, Gonstantia, 
Parish, West Monroe and Richland. It inchnled 
nineteen towns in Onondaga and twelve conij)lete 
towns together with parts of three towns in Cort- 
land county. There are all of forty towns and 




Hucsted, Photo. WOMAN'S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION. 

1, Mrs. P. Morjian, President; 3, Mrs. M. D. Sill, Vice President; 3, Mrs. Mary 
Hoose, Correspoiictiiij; Sm-ctary; 4, Mrs. Haflie Munson, President Mothers' Uepart- 
meut; .5, Mrs. \V. r. Sliuiiiway, President of Press Work; li, Mr.s. K. A. Orvis; 7, Mrs. 

M. HviMK-loii; S, Mrs. Ella liall; ' " "' '' " - 

l!iM(lliin\. 



, Mrs. P. Uavis; 10, Mrs. X. McDoiiakl; 11, Mrs. E. 



10 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



parts of eight others, the most populiir and fertile 
in Central Xcw York, that were i-arved fmm the 
oUl town iif Mexico. Toilay tli<' tract of old Mex- 
ico snpports a popnlation of about 270.0111), includ- 
ing four cities, Syracuse, Oswcro, Cortland ami 
Fulton, and twcuty-cight inctu-porated villages. 
Within those limits are raore than thirty lakes 
and i)ond.s and nmumeralile streams of clear, 
running water. 

The Woman's Christian Temperance 
Union wxs organized in April, 187t, with Mrs. .T. 
T. Hewitt ])resident, ^Irs. 15. S. Stone secretary, 
and a membership of forty. Other presidents 
were Mrs. E. Bradbury, ;Mrs. P. Davis and Mrs. 
B. S. Stone, who jiresided for a long term. Mrs. 
]\Ian- .\. Hoose, jiresident and ]Mrs. M. E. Bying- 
ton, corres]iondiiig secretary, were in otliee for 
nearly ten years. The present ofiii'ers are Jlrs. 



di8i>en8ation for a lodge to be located in the town 
of Mexico; whi<'hdisiieusition was is ued .\pril S, 
18 )S. That disjieasation having expired it was 
renewed and the last petitioQ was granted naming 
Samuel Cherry, Jr., as master, Levi Matllic«e !is 
senior warden, and I )ennisou B. I'almer as junior 
warden, with warrant issued June (>. ISIH. This 
lodge, Xo. 307, suspended in 1H27, owiog to the 
Morgan excitement. 

The warrant for the present lodge was issued 
June 15, LSIS, and is No. 13(). Thechart<.'r mem- 
bers were Bezaleel Thayer, Joseph E. Bloom- 
field, Benjamin (Jregory, David (ioit, L. 
Hulchens. Simon Lerov, Avery Skinner, Sherman 
Hosmer, I). P. Siiooner, Bradley Higgins and 
Charles Benedict. 

The first master of the new lodge was B. Thayer 
and the present ma.ster is William H. Norton. 

The first settlers who were masoni had great 
ditlii'ulfv in finding a suitable lodsr room or jilace 




MlM-lr.l. I'llDlll. 

Titp row — (It-< 
.1. r).--.MiiWlc vw 
l.iiiilslrv, .1. W. 



.Mi;.\l(() I.IIDHK, N(P. i:ill, K. \- .\. M. 
nil Irll Id ri^rlil J .lolin .\vcr\-, ItoHs (Jrcfii. .1. C(n-, K. Haker. Kri-d Ctuiklin, M. Snow. 
r-(liM)r(f.- Wliitiiuy, .s. \V.: A. Hollisler. S. D.; \V. Norton, W. .Master; W. Hiiek, A. 
I/ower row— K. A. Orvis, I'rof. A. Norton, H. Harris. 



I'eter Morgan, president; Mrs. M. D. Sill, and 
Mrs. R. A. Orvis, vice presideots; Mrs. ICugenia 
(Sraves, recording secretary; Mrs. (ieorge Mc- 
Donald, iissistant secretary; Mrs. Ella Ball, treas- 
urer; Mrs. Mary A. Hoose, eori-espondiiig secre- 
tary. The i)reseut membership is !)0. Twelve 
departments of work are \inder the direction of 
etii Ment helpers. 

Masonry in Mexico. —| By T. W. Skinner.] 
The hi.story of uuvsimry in the town of Mexico 
dates bai^k to the early settlement of the town. 
.\lmost all tlie early settlers were from New Eng- 
land and Oneida county, and ipiite a respectable 
niimlHT of them wore members of th«^ masonic 
fraternity. They soon became aci|Uaii\teil and as 
early as Nov. 14, 1801!, a petition signed by nine 
brethren was presented to the grand lodge for a 



to hold their meetings, as the first houses built 
were log houses with but one or two rooms, but 
when Shubal .Mfred built the first frame hotise 
in town they held their meetings there, but were 
obliged to send the women and children down 
(•ellar when the lodge was opened. .\t a subse- 
(luent time, att<>r Matthias Whitney built the first 
hotel where the Mexi<'o Hotel now stands, the 
masons utilized the ball room as a lodge roo-u. It 
is stated that one evening when they had a candi- 
date to initiate who wius rather a timid ami basli- 
ful young man, he was left in the kitchen till the 
lodge was ready for the initiation. He spent the 
time very agreeably in conver.sation with the 
cook, a girl who was quite a joker. During the 
evening she went into another room and returned 
with an old-fashioned gridiron which she put 
among the blazing coals and watched intensely 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OP JIEXICO. 



11 



till it was red-hot. This excited the cnriosity of 
the young man a\ ho inquired what she was doing 
that for. She replied that she did not know what 
it was tor; but .she did know that when the masons 
had a lodge meeting iiud had a candidate to 
initiate she always had to heat that gridiron very 
hot. The young man, terror stricken, seized his 
hat and rushed from the kitchen, declaring that 
the masons would never use that gridiron on him. 
Masonic records and tradition show that no can- 
didate was initiated that night. 

The present lodge, under its cajialile ofiiccrs, is 
very prosperous, and the work done in the lodge 
room has never l)een excelled in the history of the 
lodge for beauty and impressiveness. l?ut it will 
not do for the present officers to relax their efforts 
to do good work, for a new star has arisen in the 
east that threatens to become a strong rival in 
beautiful work. This is no less than Victoria 
Chapter of Eastern Star which has been recently 



Biu'en 1880, 1881, 2 years; Robert H. Baker 1890- 
'03 — 13 years. 

The Eastern Star was instituted U. D. in 
MexicoSej)tember I'.IOO, with the following officers: 
R. A. OrvLs, W. P. ; Mrs. Clara W. Davis, W. M. ; 
^Irs. Mary Hart well, A. M. ; Mrs. Anna Thomas, 
C.:Mrs. Ruth Sampson, A. C.;Miss.Tennie Baker, 
Sec. ; Mrs. Florence Hart, Treasurer; Miss Lilian 
TiOngstreet, Organist; ^Irs. ^lartha Bobbins, 
Chaplain; Mrs. Angelia Maguire, Marshall; Mrs. 
Theresa Elkins, Warder; Mrs. Kate HarJie, Ada; 
Mrs. Emma Everts, Ruth; Mrs. Mary Hare, Esther; 
Mrs. AdellaBenuett, Martha; Mrs. Harriet Porter, 
Electa. The other Charter members were Mrs. 
Bose Norton, K. H. BaKer, W. A. Bobbins, N. I). 
Hart, Frank Elkins and John Jlaguire. The 
first lady upon whom the degrees were conferred 
was jNlrs. I )elia S. Orvis and the first gentleman 
was Mr. (i. A. Davis. In the hitter part of the 




IliicsliMi, Pholii. VTCTOHIA rH.\I'TEU. .NO. 2(K, ( ). E. S. 

Tup row - (tium left to rig:ht) Mrs. E. .lohnson. Chap.: Mrs. M. Hoosc, Esther; Mrs. F. Liiwl'M, Kiilli; 
.Mrs. K. ('(inklin, .Mr. .M. t^now. Miss J. linker, Sec: Miss Lena House, Mrs. N. D. Hart, Treas. Miildle 
row— Mrs. CunninKluoii. Mrs. A. Tliomas, Con : Mi's. C. Davis, W. .Matron: Mrs. G. Sarapsoii, .Mrs. K. 
Hariiy. Lower row-Mrs. M. Hartwell, A. M.: K. A. Orvis, W. P.; .Mrs. W. Ncrton. 



established and under Ihe able management of 
Mrs. (Jeorge A. Davis as chief efficer, and an ex- 
ceedingly brilliant array of some of the most in- 
telligent and educated ladies of the village as 
associate officers, are doing such splendid work 
in exemplyfing their most beautiful and impressive 
ritual, that many of the masons who have been 
]n-esent declare that their work excels everything 
they have ever .seen. 

Mexico Chapter of Boyal Arch Ma.sons is one of 
the oldest in the county. The charter is dated 
Feb. ry, ISol. The following have been past 
masters: Bezaleel Thayer 18.51-'.")5, IHtjO-'til — (i 
years; Avery Skinner 18.j6-'59, 1862,1863 — 6 years; 
L. H. Conklin 1864-'71, 1878—9 years; T. W. 
Skinner 1872, 1873, 1875-'77, 1879, 1882-'89— 14 
years; D. B. Van Biu-en 1871— 1 year; J. G. Van 



year Mrs. Bose Norton was appointed to take the 
office of A. C. vacated by the resignation of Mrs. 
Ruth Sampson, Mrs. Gertrude Conklin was ap- 
pointed to the office of Marshall, vacated by ]\Irs. 
Mrs. Maguire who had moved to Pulaski and 
Mrs. Alice Miller filled the chair of Martha vacat- 
ed by the illness of JNIrs. Adella Bennett. 

On Nov. 29, the chajjter \\as constituted and a 
charter presented by D. D. G. M. Mrs. Clara 
Cooper Allen of .Adams. At this time as at the 
instituting of the chajjter the Pulaski and Parish 
chapters were present and on lioth occasions as- 
sisted Mrs. .\llen in the ceremonies. At the 
instituting and constituting the Masonic fraternity 
were present. A banquet and a social time followed 
the ceremonies. The officers were reelected the 
.second vear and at the third election Mrs. Clara 



12 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Davis for the third time was persuaded to accept 
the honor of filling the oflfioe of W. ^f. Mrs. Ella 
lircnkeiliofV 1). 1). (J. M. of .Jordan ofiiciallv vi.sit- 
cd thr' order August 'H. 

Initiations were frequent and an oceasional soeial 
was lield: tlie orfjanizatiou increa-sed in number 
and in interest until at the present time there are 
7S members. Two very enjoviilile visits were 
made to Puritan Cliapter of Parisli and the sisters 
of that order visited the Mexico C'hajiler sustain- 
ing very cordial relations with each oilier. Miss 
.\iiua Bard deserves si)ecial mention for the in- 
terest she lias taken in sustaining lier a|ipointment 
as eommittee to provide literary and music d enter- 
tainment. The meetings ore held in tLe new and 
handsome ^[asoni<- Temple. 

One member Mrs. W. W. Kiugsley jiiussed on to 
the higher life, and by her stnmtj'v expre-sed 
wish was buried with tlie beautiful au<l impressive 
rites of the Eastern Star. 



expire .Tune .30, 1903. We coagratulate Arbeit 
Lodge for the great degree of success it has id- 
taiiied and l>espeak for it continued prosperity in 
the future. 

Mexico of 1796. — Its boundaries are here clear- 
ly defined and iml)lished for the first time. By 
legislative enactment of Feb. li(i, ITlXi, Mexico 
was reconstnicted within the following boundary 
lines: "Beginning at the north-west corner of a 
tract of land commonly called F(mda's forty- 
thousand acre patent, thence down and along the 
west side of Canada creek to its jnnetion witli 
Wood creek, thence down and along the waters of 
Wood creek to Oneida lalve, thence through thi' 
middle of .said lake to the west end thereof, thence 
til the north shore of the Onondaga river, thence 
down autl along the north side of the .siii<l river to 
Lalie Ontario, thence easterly and northerly along 




iiii.sii-.i. I'liiitii. .vuiiKir i.iiiKn;. nh. his, i.h. o. f. 

Till) row- (liom lerilo risrlit) K. Stewart, W.; I'.cil I»ili-r, If. S. X. C: \. .1. HaMoek, U, S.; A. ,1. 
Uii»i\ I', a.; I). Men ton, I,. H. N. G.; \V. Sampsmi, L. S. N. (;.; V. Kilwuids, P. (!. .Miilille row—.!, Pilor, 
P. G.: P. Melmr, P. O.. W. V. Ueiiiiy, G. Patten, P. G.; I.. Clearwater, Coll.: ,1. Smith, P. O.; F. Conklin, 
O, G. C. Stevens, V. O.; ,J. Grotliier, F. S.; W. ,loidan, Tieas.; C. Mlmkler, P. G.; F, Clearwater, S. S, 



Odd Fellows.— The hifctory of .\rbeit Jjodge, 
No. 1()S, [. (). O. p., only covers a brief space of 
time and yet its records are evidence that a great 
fraternal work hn.s been performed by the ollicers 
and members, bringing unparallelled success to 
the lodge and making it second to none in Oswego 
county. The lodge was instituted May 21, IHlli), 
with eleven charter members and on the evening 
of ihat date nineteen candidates were niiule iiuun- 
bers of the scirlet degree making in all thirty 
me-nbers whose concentrated energies were soon 
recognized by the citizens of Mexico and vicinity, 
{Candidates iiro conlinually knocking for admis- 
sion anil our meiiibcr.sliip lias readied IT.'iand tlie 
work has just begun. 'I'lie illustration aceoiii- 
pauyiog tliis sketch represents tbi> Past Crands, 
together with the present olM'jers wlioae term will 



the .said lake to the moiitli of Black river, thence 
up and along the saiil river to the northern most 
corner of 2.j,()UI) acres of land sold by William 
Constable to William Inman, thence south 37 
degree,-! and 30 minutes west along the north- 
westerly bounds of the said Iractcommonly called 
Oothout's jiatent, thence south one degree west 
along the westerly line of said trat!t to the place of 
it.s beginning." 

.Mexico was then comiitised within the bound- 
ary running on jiresent geogi'apliieal lines from 
till' junction of two streams which form the lie- 
ginning of Canada creek, chise to the east side of 
the village of Lee (Vntre, Oneida county, directly 
north to and across the south boundary nf Lewis 
county, pii-ssing one mile west of the village of 
West licyden, running north along the boundary 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



l:i 



between the towns of Leyden and West Turin to 
the west bank of Black River opposite the mouth 
of Moose river. Then its course, very phunly ex- 
) iressed, followed the Black river to Lake Ontario, 
the shore of that lake to the Oswego river, then 
up that stream and Oneida river to Oneida lake, 
along the north .shore of that lake to and up Wood 
and Canada creeks. 

This large town then enclosed all the jire.sent 
Oswego county east of the Oswego river, Oneida 
county north and west of Wood and Canada 
creeks, Lewis county west of Black river, excej)! 
t lie town of Leyden, and .Jefter.son county .south 
of ]51ack river. 

Carved from this territory are today four tow-ns 
and jiarts of three others in the county of Oneida, 
ten towns iind a part of one in Lewis county, nine 
towns in .Tett'erson county and eighteen towns in 
Oswego county: altogether forty -two complete 



worth, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hessell, Dr. G. 
Franklin Smith and Clayton Sherman. There 
were thii-ty-five initiated the first night and the 
membership has been increasing until at the 
present time it numbers over 100. In its second 
year the lodge was hoDored by having the office 
of district deputy president of the county which 
was held by Mrs. (irace Edwards, their first noble 
grand. The degree staff has been quite noted for 
the tine work it has done, having assisted at the 
institution of three new lodges iu the county, .an<l 
feels proud to have conferred the Rebekah degree 
on 184 sisters and brolhers the past year. Where 
so many are banded together in friendship, love 
and truth, they are not only a help to one another, 
but to the community in whicli they ai'e located. 
The present officers are; LUla Stevens, N. G. ; 
Louella Stewart, V. G. ; Kittie Sherman, R. S. ; 
Grace Edwardi, F. S.; Adell Prceman, treasurer: 
Leona Stone, Con. : Addie Hallock, Ward. ; Lucy 




Huestcd, I'lidlo. .SILVER CUlvST, UEItEKAIl. No. -'-".i. 

Top row — (from left to right) Mrs. M. Vausickle, Mrs. A. Freeman, Treas.; Miss A. Halloelc, War- 
den; Miss S. Doyle, Miss G. Fleming, Mrs. E. McLvmoml, L. S.N. G.; Mrs. V. Petting-ill, Mrs. I). Morton, 
(), G. Middle row— Mrs. G. Edwards, P. G. F. S.: .Miss Ella Carlton, K. S. V. G.; Mrs. L. Smith, P. G.; 
Mrs. L. Stevens, N. G.; Miss Kit Sherman, R. S.; Miss N. Gustin, Con.; Mrs. L. Stewart, V. G. Lower 
row— Mrs. N. Southworth, K. S. N. G.; Miss Eva Stevens. Chap.; Miss Etta Stone, L. S. V. G.; Miss L. 
ISrinklow, I. G. 



tdwiih and parts of foiir others. The running 
distance of the boundary line — the cu-cumferenoe 
of the town of Mexico of 1796 — was about 250 
miles. .\t the present time there is within this 
territory a population of over 125,000, not in- 
cluding those parts of the cities of Watertown, 
Oswego and Fulton — cities which are not wholly 
comprised in the territorial limits of Mexico of 
179(!. and twenty-three mcoriiorated villages. 

Silver Crest Rebekah Lodge, Xo. 229, of 
Mexico, N. Y., was instituted March 15, 1900, with 
the following charter members: Mr. and Mrs. 
Frank Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. John Whiting, Mr. 
and Mrs. John Pifer, Mr. and Mrs. George South- 



Brinklow, I. G. ; F. Stewart, O. G. ; NeUie South- 
worth, R. S. to N. G. ; Leona Seyor, L. S. to N. 
G. ; Anna CoUins, R. S. to V. G. ; Etta Stone, L. 
S. to V. G. ; Eva Stevens, Chap. : Frank Edwards, 
degree master. 

Genealogy -Of Mexico; her antecedents and 
progeny of Civil Divisions (Of the towns in 
Oswego county only those erected directly from 
the town of Mexico are included.) 

Nov. 1, 16S>! — Nmv Yo'ik province erected into 
ten counties, Albany, New York, Dutchess, Kings, 
Orange, Queens, Richmond, Suttolk, lUster, 
Westchester. 

March 22, 1772 — Tryon county erected from 
.\lbanv County. 



u 



'GRIP'S' lIlSTuniCAL SOUXK-NUt or MJiXlCO. 



March 8, 1773 — KiN(isr,ANr) district, one of tlie 
five into which Tryon county was iliviilcd. 

A))ril i, ]~Si — MoNTooMEHV County nanic suli- 
stituteil for Tryon Co. 

Marcli 7, 178M — WiirrF.sTowN from Kingsland 
district; nil of the stale west of a line drawn mutli 
and south through I'tiea. 

Feb. If), IV'.tl — HEHKiirsn county erected from 
Montgomery including all of Whitestown. 

April 10, 1792 — Mpxk o erei^ted from Whites- 
town (For boundary lines see "Mexico of 1792,' 
page 8). 

March 5, 1794 — Toysan der erected from Mexico: 
embracing all of present Oswego county west of 
Oswego river. 

March.'), 1794 — Onondaha County erected from 
Mexico. 

1794 — Cortland C'onnty erected from ^lexico. 

Feb. 2t!, 179() — Mexico reerected. (Forboundary 
see Mexico of 179(). ) 

March 1.5, 1798 — Onkioa County; in jiart from 
Mexico, including all of that town cast of ( )swego 
river in her limits. 



March 1, 181(1 — OswE(io Co. with 8 towns.Con- 
stantia, Hannibal. Mexico, New Haven, Kichland, 
l!edliel<l, Scriba and Williamstown. 

May 9, 1S17 — .\n.nexi:i) to Mkxko from Kich- 
]an<l eleven lots, (l:i7-148 inclusive.) 

JIarch 29, 1828— Pari.sh from Mexico. 

^Iny 9, ]8H(i — Annexed to Mexico from Xew 
Haven six lots (9:! and 97 inclusivej and from 
Kichland lot 11(1. 

Olelzar Richards Post, No. :>()7, (J. .\. K., 
was instituted by the aid of the commander of 
Post O'Brien of Oswego, N. Y. on the 18th day of 
:May, 1881',. 

Thirty-tive comrades were duly nmst«red as 
memliers of the Post and the following were didy 
installed as officers of the Post, viz: Commander, 
Hon. M. L. Wright ; Sr. Vice Commander. Newton 
Hall; Jr. Vice Commander, W. S. Sweetlaud; 
.\djt , F. B (ii'egorv; Surgeon, W. A. Tillapaugh; 
Chaplain, Rev. C. A. Booth; (). 1)., Geo. A Pen- 
field; (). M.. A. K. Matt<>son: H. M., L. A. 



U t 







U 



yr 



llmsl.il, I'licilo. MEr./.AK It K'll .V It US I'O.-^T. \c>. :)iiT, C. A. li. 

Tci|> row— (from lelt to ri(rht) 1,. .1. Clark, I), liiiiion. ( miier ul' iho (iay; (i. Iluck, M. I'arsuiis, O.Wcbl). K.I,. H\in- 
injfton. I). Austin, 8iii'Keon; W. .Nwerllaml, K. .lom-s. ti.tLarkin. I. Maiks, It. I'ai-mctier, .1. Kclk-r. Middk- row— K. 
Curpiiitei-. It. Aiiil, S. V.; I,. Iteijiiillaril. K. ilakiT, Adt.; .'<. N'k'iiols, Com.; C. Kverts, >.). M.; ,1. Ilulisun. S. Si><)Oiui-, 
.1. \ .; H. llackus. Lower row— i,. Whitney, Chap.; ,1. Itunlick, I.. T\iller, S. Major; W. Elevens. H. .\nies, L. Mn.viiu. 
M. Mentor. 



March 1;"), 179!l — (!ami>en, Oneida Co., from 
Mexico (including Vienna and Florence.) 

March 14,1800 — Ciiami'I()N,Wati:kti)WN,.\i>ams, 
(.lelVerson Co.,) Kedeibi.d (Oswego Co.), Tikis 
and Lowvii,LE (Lewis ('o); leaving Mexico with 
about 1,200 scpiare miles of territory. 

Feb. 22,1 803 -ELLisnt'Ko (including Henderson), 
.TetVerson C'o., from Mexico. 

March 24, 1804— Lorraine, (including Worth) 
Jefl'erson Co., from Mexico. 

March 24, 1804 —Williamstow.n, (including .\in- 
boy, .Vlbion, Piichland, Handy ('reek, Orwell, 
Boylston) from Mexit^o. 

Feb, 28, ]80(; — FREDicK.smnuii (including Vol- 
ney, Palermo, Scribu and Schneppell, from 
Mexico. 

.\pril 8, 1808— Constantia, leaving Mexico 
with its ])re.sent territory and that including 
the towns of Parish and New Haven. 

April 2, 1813— New Haven from Mexico. 



Whitney; Q. M. S.. N. Alford. :\I. P. Wright 
served lus Conwnander until 188.") when W. S. 
Sweetland was elected Commander. Geo. A. Pen- 
tield was next elected Comnninder in 188(1 ami at 
the next election ni 1887 K. L. Huntington was 
elected Commander who served the Pk,st aa such 
continonsly until 18!l.") wheu P. A.Whitney served 
for one year, after which Kobert .\ird served for 
one year, succeeiled by Myron .lohnson who dieil 
while in otlicc, after whi<'h, in l.s:r.l, when I". L. 
Huntiiig'on was again elected commander and 
served until 1903, when the present officers 
were eli'cted and in.stalled, viz: Commau<ler, 
Samuel Nichols; Sr. Vice Commander, Robert 
.\ird;.Ir. Vice Commander, K. S. Spoouer; Adjt,. 
!•;. Baker; Q, :\Iaftter, C. M. Everts; O. 1)., 
1). M. Barton; Surgeon, D. H. .Vustiii; Cha])lain, 
L. A. Whitney; O. li., Wm. Stevens; S. M., L. 
Taller. 

This Piist has had mi ils roll l.'ii; cnm- 



■GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OP MEXICO. 



vades. From its membership the gi-eater part of 
New Haven Post "Doyle," Vermillion Post 
"Sherman" and the Post of Pariah have been 
taken. It has lost by transfers and by the un- 
bidden guest that no closed or guarded doors oan 
avail (that which we call death) until the Post only 
iniMibers ('i3 ci>mrade3 in good standing. It is a 
fact that many widows, sick and disabled soldiers 
of the great rebellion have lilessed the n.ame of 
this Post for the aid and sympathy given to them 
when in need of helj) and in sickness, and not un- 
til the last comrade of the Post shall be mustered 
out by the Comniiinder of the universe wiU its 
name be blotted out or its liistory forgotten. 

The Melzar Richards Woman's Relief 
Corps, No. 135, was organized Aug. Ill, ISSi), 
with thirteen charter memliers. The following 
otlicers were nnanimously elected and installed by 
Sarah E. Minck, department jn-esident, formerly 
national president: Pi'esident, .Jennie Barton; vice 



otic teaching have introduced flag drill in many 
schools, thus instilling love of country and its 
endilem in the hearts of our children. Miich as- 
sistance has been given to needy soldiers and 
their dependant ones, no known wi>rlliy, deserv- 
ing sufferei' being neglected. 

Towns of Oswego County. — Hate of their 
erection and towns from which they were taken ; 
tra<'ing each back successively to the original 
teri-itory ; 

.\mboy, JIarch 2.'), l.S:^,l); from Williamstown; 
which was taken from ]\Iexico. 

AUriim, March 21, bS2ri; from Kicliland; from 
Williamstown : from Mexico. 

Constantia I Rotterdam], .\iiril S, ISKS; from 
Mexico; from Steuben Patent. 

Boylston, Feb. 7, 1S28; Orwell; Richland; AVil- 
liamstown; Mexico. 

Granby, April 20, 1818; Hannibal; Lysander, 
Onondaga Co. ; Mexico; MOitary tract. 




lluesti-d. I'hi.l.,. MELZAU Ulrll.Vl!l).-> I'd.ST, .\,.. IX:, W . 11. C. 

1, Mrs. G. Laikin, 2, Mrs. S. Nichols, Cliaplain, 3, Mrs. Jane Webli, 4, Mrs. A. Cole, Guard, o, .Mrs. Maggie 
Evarts. Cdkir Ui-arer, B, Mrs. Helen McMuUen, Secretary,?. Mrs. Olive Adams, S, Mis. Anna Day, H, Mrs. 
Hattic Newell, Vice President, 10, Mrs. L. J. Clark, 11, Mrs. Mai-y Sweetland, K, Mrs. .1. liall. l;i. Mrs. (Daniels 
14, Mrs. Ada Parker, Pianist, l.i, Mrs. Ella Ames, lli. .Mrs. Moda Barker, 17 Mrs. D.Barton, IK, Mrs. L. Dillen- 
lieck. Color Bearer, ISI, Miss Jnlia Nichols, .\ssistant Condiictor, 20, Mrs. .Maria Spooner, President, 21, Mrs. 
M. Pai'sons, 22, Mrs. M. Stunt-. 2:;, Mrs. N. Pcnheld, 24, Mrs. E. Parker, Assistant Guard, 2.'>, Mrs. M.Andrews, 
.luniiir Vice, 21), Mrs. Noia .MrDonald, 27, Mrs. Mary Huntington. Conductor, 28, Mrs. J. Carpenter, 2!), Mrs. D. 
Austin, :iO, Mrs. F. C. Tilhipaufih, 31, Mrs. J. Kulisou, 32, Mrs. E. .tones. 



president, Olive Adams; junior vice president, 
.\delia Hardy; chaplain, Adelaide M. Parker; 
treasurer, Celia Copp; conductor, Amelia Clark; 
assistant conductor, PhUauda Aird; guard, Ella 
Ames; assistant guard, Kate Morton. 

.\ugust 19, 1890 found the number of members 
largely increased. Its growth has been continu- 
ous, and at the pi'esent time there are sixty-six 
members. In 1883 a piano was purchiised by the 
Clorps, aided by the Post, to which we are aux- 
iliary ; and from time to time other property, such 
as tables, dishes, silverware, linen and numerous 
other article have been added, thus enabling them 
to givi' socials, musicales and other entertainments 
for its benefit. Flag work has been adJed to the 
ritual work of the corps and committees on patri- 



Hastings, April 20, 1825; Constantia; Mexico. 

Hannibal, Feb. 28, 1806; Lysander; Mexico; 
Military tract. 

Mexico, .\pril 10, 1792 — re-organized Feb. 25, 
1791); ^\llitestowu, Herkimer Co. 

New Haven, Ajiril 2, 1813; Mexico. 

Orwell, Feb. 28, 1817; Richland: Williamstown: 
Mexico. 

Oswego, April 20, 1S18; Hannibal; Lysander; 
Mexico; ^Military tract. 

Palermo, .\]iril 4. 1832; Vohiey; Mexico. 

Parish, :March 20, 1828; Mexico. 

Redtteld, March 14, 1800; Mexico. 

Rieldand, Feb. 20, 1807; Williamstown, Mexico. 

Scrilja, April 5, 1811; Fredei-icksburg (see Vol- 
neyj; Mexico. 



If. 



•tUiU-'S" IlISTOliiUAL, SOUVKNiU OF MEXICO. 



Siimly Creek. Mim-h 21, 182.".: Richliind: Wil- 
liamstown; Mexico. 

Schrceppel, Aiiril 4, 1H!2; Yc.lney; Mexico. 

Voliiev, .Vpiil •">, ISl I ; eiect<Ml first ius the town 
of Frcilcrick.sburt.'. :M;irch 21. 1 SOU; from Me.xico. 

Willitimstown, March 24, l«(tt; Mexico. 

West Monroe, Miirch 21, 1H89; Constantia; 
Mexico. 

Vera Cruz \v:i.s the iiiiine of u viUage and har- 
bor at the uioiith of LittU- Sahiiou river, which 
were de.signeil by (leorge Scrilia in 17'.»."> and were 
intended to become the main poit of entry at the 
eastern end of Lake Ontario. Being located at 
Lis "copitiil" on Oneida lake which he called Rot- 
terdam, now the yilliige of Constantia, Mr. Keriba 
desired to open means of connecting with the out- 
side world l)y lake navigation. Following the 
most direct and feasible route he opened a road 
four rods wide, lietween Rotterdam and the lake, 
a distance of twenty miles, stiiliing at the point 
where he determined to locate his lake port. This 
road ran almost a "bee line" even cros.sing the 
high hill in the eiustern part of the village of ^lex- 
ico near the house formerly owned by Joseph 
Simons. Tn 17!).") his agent Benjamin Wright, sur- 
\cyed both .sides of the Little Salmon river from 
the lake a half mile up stream and laid out the 
whole tract in .streets and "city lots." A map of 
the i)ropo.sed city which was made at that time 
was afterwards found by Mr. (ieorge (ioodwiu of 
Mexico and with the understanding that it should 
be j)reservi d, was ])laced in the custody of one of 
the pro|inetor.s of the summer hotels now occupy- 
ing I lie site of the cmbryoic city of Vera Cruz. It 
was framed and now hangs in the hotel. 

Scrib.i's vast jirojects for a harbor at this place 
were never fully realized, although for a few years 
l>eginning the niuteenth ccnturv, considerable 
lake business was transacted at this "port." Tlie 
deepening of the harbor and the necessary break- 
waters which he expected the government wouhl 
effect were never obtained. J5ut considerable 
building of small structures. ])rincii>idly residences 
was done along tlie stream and the place gave 
promise of f\Unre greatness. It is .said that in 
ISIII more merchandise Wius received and produ' e 
ship]ied at this place than at Oswego or Utica, 
lioth of which were then small villages. 

The year Wriglit made the surxey Scriba erected 
on the stream back from the lake a saw and grist 
mill. The following year Wright put uji a log 
building for a residence and another for a store. 
That summer he procured as much help as could 
be obtained from the settlers and dug out the 
mouth of the creek. The next year, IT'.IT, Scriba 
caused to V)e erected a one-story building for a 
tavern and five small stru<-tures intended for 
homes o" his workmen of whom he intended to 
employ a large number, ho]>ing to induce many 
to come there with their families. These were 
budt about on the jiresent site of Texa.s, where 
the fall of the stream made it necessiU'v two years 
li<>fore to erect his mills so that he could obtain 
water jtower, and close to which it was desirable 
to establish the nucleus for the projiosed "city." 
X sea captain nam(>d (leerman, who had come 
over from Holland, wa.s sent to Vera Cruz by Mr. 
Scriba to suiierintend the erection of a .shij) vanl 
which wius forthwith laid out but was not imilt 
until the f(dlowing spring. 17KH. In the mean- 
time a few families had arrived, some of them 



tiiking np small plots of ground which they were 
to i>urchiuse for homes, and a few jdaces of busi 
ness ha.l started up. The pl.ace in 17i>S comprised 
a dozen buildings including the Wrij,'ht store, the 
Scriba tavern and a blacksmith shop. There is 
no record of Capt. Geernian crossing the lake 
until he made the fateful voyage to Kingston in 
in the summer of 179!). Benjamin Winch, .\i-chi- 
bald Fairchild and Benjamin Gilbert bought 
homes here and brought in their famihes during 
17!).H. Captain (ieerman loaded his new schooner 
in the summer of 17!)!> with lundwr and accom- 
panied by Welcome Spencer sailed for Kingston. 
Several days passed and nothing wius heard from 
them. Finallv it wjis learned that they had not 
been seen at Kingston. Then a rescuing l>arty 
mad(> up of the father of young Spencer, Chili- 
mau Wheadon, Green Clark, Nathaniel Rood ami 
Miles DooUttle, all prosperous citizens of 
Vera Cruz— Clai-k and Rood binug freeholders- 
put out in a small boat hoj ing to get tidings of 
the lo.st craft. On their return when opposite the 
mouth of Salmon river, ten miles from home, the 
boat was upset bv a sviddcn sijuall. Wheadon was 
the oulv one of the ]iarty who numaged for a 
time to'cling to the overturned l>oat. But he Wii.s 
soon compelled to let go even while some wood- 
men who had come down to shore were attempt- 
ing to get out to his rescue. Not one of the party 
was saved. Their lo.ss left at Vera Cruz only 
Benjamin Wright. Benjamin Winch, Benjamin 
GUbert and Archibidd Fairchild, surviving frc<'- 
holders and heads of families, the rest of the pop- 
ulation being Scriba's workmen. It was a serious 
blow to the prosperity of the community. Bat 
others came in and the "town for a fi>w years picked 
up with renewed vigor. Then followed more dis- 
asters on the lake in which now and th(>n a resi- 
dent of the place was lost, l-'inally in 1 S2() all of 
the buildings between the present site of the 
Texas postoflSce and the lake were burned. Then 
the new buildings that were erected were built 
chistering about that iioiut and the new name of 
Texas was sulistituted tor that of Vera Cruz. A 
ship yard built at the same time did not prosper 
and was at last abandoned. , 

Now the lake shore on both sides is occupied 
by summer homes, the locality being known as 
Mexico Point, more recently and more appropri- 
ately christened Ontario Park. 

Supervisors. John Myer 17!t7--8: Reuben 
Hamilton 171I'.I-1H0I1, lSI):i-'l).">: Jonathan Parkhurst 
1801; Calvin TifTanj 181)2, Dyer Burnliam 1806- 
•S, •10,'12-1.5; David Ea.ston 1809; David Williams 
ISll; Elias Brewster 1816-'17; '40-'l; '44; David 
Buruham lHlS-'20; Peter Pratt 1821, '23- '8; W. 
S. Fitch 1822; Joseph Lamb 1829; Joseph W. 
Houghton 1830-'4; Luther S. Couklin 183.5-'6; 
Joseph Torrev 1837; Charles Brewster 1838-'9; 
Orville Robinson 1842; Starr Clark 1843; John 
M Richardson ]84.')-'8; James S. Chandler 1849; 
Bradlev Higgins lS.^,0--3; L. D. Snath 18 ,1-0; 
Calvin"G. Hmcklev ISr.t;; Seabury A. luller 8;./; 
■ti'>-'7- M Neweir 18,")S-'9; Calvin Smith 18t)0; 
Leonard Ames lSi;i;John C. Taylor 18<)8-^!); 
William J. Menter 1S70-5; -V-sa L. Sampson 18i(>- 
%" 'Ol-^i- George H. Goodwin 188:5; L. La Seur 
Vh'gil 1884; John W. L.kW 188.-,-T.; '89; M. W 
Collins 1887--8; Rufus P. Calkins 1890; Edward 
L. Huntington 1894 (present incumbent). 



"GKIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIB OP MEXICCX 



17 



The County Seat Question. — Umler the 
authority of the law eivctiug the county, enacted 
March 1, 1816, provision was made for two county 
seats, each representing one of the two "jury 
districts" into which the county was then divided. 
The naming of what was to 1 le tlie two half-shire 
villages of the county was left to three comniis 
sioners named in the act, viz: Pearley Keyes and 
Ethel Bronson of the county of .TeU'erson, ami 
Steiihen ISates of the county of < )ntario. The 
consti'uction of coni't houses in Oswego and Pu- 
laski was begun in the summer of 1818. That at 
Oswego was a wooden structure designed solely as 
a court Louse, althougii its hasement was sulise- 
quently titte<l up for a jail. The coiirt house at 
Pulaski wiS a more pretentious structure, being 
designed to accommodate a commodious jail. 

In 1858 the old stone jail on East Second street, 
Oswego, was constructed, which answered every 



kept. On April 6, 1852, the citizens of the town 
of Eichland were also authorized to build a tire 
proof clerk's office on a lot given for the purpose 
by Benjamin Wright in Pulaski, provided that it 
be finished by Heptemlier 1, 185;!, and the town 
was authorized to raise .S1.501)by tax. The super- 
visors let the contract for the erection of a one- 
story stone building to C. H. Cross and it was 
completed in that summer at the cost of $1,295, 
on the site next west of the court liouse. 

In Xoveml)er of the same year an eU'ort was 
made to have the county .seat located permanentlv 
at Oswego. This led to a hot discussion l)et\veen 
those who favored and those who ojiposed the 
l>roposition. It became so acrimonious that the 
snjiervisors attempted to cc)mpriiini''e by adopting 
a resolution, November 22, for the location of the 
county clerk's ottice at Mexico, it being supposed 
by those who favored Oswego tliat the i)eople of 




Dunwick, I'l 



-MAI.N .STHKKT, EAST FltCl.M Inl.. 



It llAliUVS liESIDE.XCE. 



purpose until the completion of the new jail, in 
1888. In 1858 the board of supervisors apjiro- 
priated .■$30,1)00 for the erection of a new court 
house in Oswego and $5,000 for enlarging and re- 
paiiing the court house in Pulaski. The former 
was comideted in September, 1860, and its cost 
was $610 less than the appropriation, being 
$29,3'.)0. The improvements on the court house 
at Pulaski were made in 185!t. 

Until 1853 the records of the county were kept 
at intervals in places which seemed the most seciu'c 
in Oswego and Pulaski. By common consent 
they were transferred tr<im (me i)lace to the other 
with the election of a clerk, once in three vears. 
By an act of April 11, 1851. the common council 
of Oswego was authorized to ex])end not less than 
$2,000, raised by a .special levy municijjal tax, for 
the erection of a fire proof county clerk's office in 
that city, which buddmg was shortly afterward 
constructed, and there the records have since been 



that town might in that way be won over to the 
plan of making Oswego the place for the meetings 
of all the courts. 

In the winter of 1853 petitions for the division 
of the county were jjresented to the legislature. 
In December, 1852, Judge Pratt granted an in- 
junction restraining the comity clerk f^-jm mov- 
ing the records from his office in the cii ,- of Os- 
wego. By a subseijueut action ou the part of the 
supervisors and by an act of the legislature the 
l^ermanent location of the county clerk was fixed 
at Oswego. 

The First Highwray between Mexico and Os- 
wego run tiirough what is known as the Cheever 
district, following closely the shore of the lake for 
a considerable distance. This was the continu- 
ation of the great road which was previously 
opened froji Camden first as far as Colosse then 
on to Mexico. 



18 



"OlilP'S" JIISTOHICAL SOUVENIK OF MEXICO. 



Champlain in Itlexico, 1615. — TLiit this re- 
ijiarkiil)li' ixi»'iiitinii lid by tlir FrPUcL courtier 
('lmiii])liiin whi'ii lie wji-s govcriior of New France 
iu liUf), laiiileil iiliiio.st in the town of Mexico iiml 
leil his men iicross (his section of country even 
crossing Little Sahnon creek near tlie present vil- 
lage of Texas, cannot successfully be (li8))uteil. 
The iintliority for this st ifenient is Chainplain's 
map of New France, ))nl)lislie<l in 1(>S2, upon 
which tlie route lie pursued is plainly traced liy a 
•lotted line. 

C'hamiilaiii in ItiO!) had discovered and explored 
the lake which Ix'iirs his name. Six yi'ars lat<'r, 
following the unlieateii tracks north of tlie (Ireiit 
Tjakes he jienetrated the tlien unknown refjions 
westward into the countiy of the Hurons striking 
the shores of the lake bearing that name. Then 
he returned east accom]>anied by a considerable 



the party directed their course soutliwesterly, 
traveling "four leagues over a sandy i>lain." They 
weie crossing the heart of what is now the town of 
^lexico, which Champlain describes as follows: 
"I observed a very pleasing and tine country 
watered by numerous small streams, and two little 
rivers which empty into the said lake [Little Sal- 
mon and Grindstone creeks] and a number of 
]ionds and prairies where there was an infinite 
(|uantity of game, a great many vines and tine 
trees, vast nundiers of chestnuts, the fruit of 
wliich was yet in the shell. It was ipiite small 
and well flavored." He evidently refers to beech- 
nuts I unknown to Euro|)eaus| a large (piantity of 
which was once found in Mexico. 

Some historians have located the fort he attack- 
ed in the Oneidas' ooiintry. others in that of the 
< )non(lagas' After stndving his mati no one can 




hunwirk, IMinii 



riii-.i-rr. .siirTii ikmm .^i'kinc s-|'Ki:i:r. 



force of that nation who were then at war with the 
Seoecas, the most western of the Five Nations of 
Indians. Skirting the north shores of the lakes 
as far as the pn'sent sit<> of Kingston, he embarked 
at that point and cro.sse(l Lake Ontario, "proceed- 
ing southward," ashe writes, "towards the enemies 
1 Iroquois] country." His i>assage acro.ss what he 
calls lake of the Entx)uhonorons ] Hunin term for 
Ontario I, during which he noticed ".some beauti- 
ful and very large islands," he estimated to lie H 
leagues I 12 mile,'- 1, which corres]ionds to the dis- 
tance from Kingst<in to Salmon riv<'r. "We ('<in 
tinned our journey overland," he writes, "some 
2.") or :{() leagues," the distance following the dot- 
ted line on his mai), from Salmon river to lake 
('anandaigua, when' he attackeil an iriiiuois fort 
ami after six ilays was comj elled to retreat. Laii<l- 
ing at Sidmon river "the Indians concealeil all of 
tlieir ciuioes in the woods near the banks." Then 



rea<'h such conclusion except on the theory that 
he has incorrectly located the lakes which he 
]iassed a theory not tenable since he proiierly 
located both Oneida and Onondaga lakes and 
marks the course he followed as leading westward 
lieyond the chain of Western New York lakes. 

Mexico in 1824 is described as a village with 
a postotlice "4;, miles west of C'olo.sse where there 
are 12 or 15 houses and 2 or .S mills on Catfish 
creek. The population of the town,"' says this 
authority, "is l..")9(): iiiO farmers, 5 traders, (!1 
mechanics, 3 foreigners, 1 free black, '.I schools, 
Hi.l electors, l,41i» cattle. 271 horses, 2,.>HI) sheep, 
17.2S8 yards of cloth, ;^ grist mills. 7 .saw mills, 1 
oil mill, 2 fulling mills, '■) carding miurhines, 1 
card nian\ifactory, 3 distilleries, 3 tanneries, 3 
a.slieries." 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



19 



George H. Goodwin was l)orn in Mexico, N. 
Y., in 1S34, the youngest of four childreu and the 
only survivor. His brothers were J. Austin Good- 
win, Joseph C. Goodwin and Henry G. Goodwin. 
His father, Calvin (ioodwin, and his mother, 
Emily Hiukley, l)oth of Eiglish deseent, were 
liorn in Manstield, Conn., and came to Mexico in 
1.S28. The former died in 1869 and the latter in 
1845. His grandfather was a well known minister 
of the gospel who preaelied aUout forty years in 
Connecticut and was the founder and first pastor 
of the Baptist church in ^lexico village. 

The .subject of this sketch was 
educated at the Mexico academy. 
He read law with ex-.Judge Cyrus 
Whitney, Orville Eobinson and 
.bimes Xoxon, and was graduated 
from the dejjartment of law of the 
Albany University in 1856. He 
iiracticed his profession for a few 
years in Oswego county and in 
California, but was afterwards more 
or less diverted from the law by 
reason of ill health and the cares 
devolving upon him in the settle- 
ment of estates, so he has given 
more time laterly to business and 
literature than to his profession. 
Mr. Goodwin formerly took an 
active interest iu politics and has 
held many positions of trust. He 
was chah-mnn of the democratic 
county committee many years and 
frecpienlly reiiresented liis party in 
the .state conventions. 

He was president of Mexico vil- 
lage in 1879 and was supervisor of 
the town of Mexico in 1883, being 
the only democrat, with a single 
exception, that has been elected as 
supervisor of the town of Mexico 
<Uiring the past forty-seven years. 

Mr. (ioodwin has been an exten- 
sive traveller on both continents. 
In 1882 he visitedlreland.England, 
France, Italy, Switzerland, (ier- 
many. Belgium and Holland. In 
1889 he made a more extended 
tour in the east in the course in 
which he ascended the Xile of 
Egyj)t and afterwards visited Pales- 
tine, Syria, Turkey, (ireece and 
many islands of the ^lediterranean. 
He has also traversed almost everv 
portion of Xorth .America. While 
abroad he wrote a long series of 
letters which were published in 
the local papers and widely copied 
by the jiress of the state. 

In 1883 Mr. Goodwin was united in marriage to 
.\dehiide E. Alfred, daughter of Chas. L. Webb, 
of Mexico. Slie died April 11, 1,S,S4. Their only 
child, Mabel A., died Sept. 29, 1881. 

County Clerks. — James Adams (ajipointed), 
Oswego town, March 21, 18111; Joseph Davis (ap- 
pointed,) Oswego, March 19, 18bS; Smith Dunlap 
(appointed) Sandy Creek, Feb. 19, 1821; Hiram 
Hubbell, Pula.ski, term began Jan. 1, 1823; T. S. 
Morgan, Oswego, Jan. 1. 182(5; Thomas C. Baker, 
Pulaski, Jan. 3, 1829; Erie Poor, Oswego, Jan. 1, 
18:^2; Marinus W. Mathews, Pulaski, Jan. 1, 1835; 



Daniel H. Marsh, O.swego, Jan. 1, 1838; Andrew 
Z. McCarty, Pulaski. Jan. 1, 1841; John CarpeL- 
ter, Oswego, Jan. 1. 1844; Jabez H. Gilbert, Pu- 
laski, .Tan. 1, 1847; Philander Kathbun, Oswego, 
Jan. 1, 18.-)0; Edwin M. Hill, Pulaski, Jan. 1. 18.53; 
Henry S. Conde, Hastings, Jan. 1, 185ti; Samuel 
B. Taylor, Oswego, Jan. 1, 1859; Edward X. 
Eathbnn, Oswego, Jan. ], lS(i2; BerniieL. Doane, 
Pulaski, Jan. 1. 18(')5; Mannister Worts, Oswego, 
.Tan. 1, 18()8; John .T. Stephens, Oswego town, 
Jan. 1, 1871; Brainard Nelson, Oswego, .Ian. 1, 
1874; Daniel E. Taylor, Grauby, .Tan. 1. 1877; 
Merrick Stowell, Oswego, Jan. 1, 1880; John Gai-- 




Horrowed Cut. 
Hi! 



GKOKCiE H. (iOoDWI.X. 
toiiuu "Grip's" Hisrorii'al Souvenir of Me.xioo. 

denier, Oswego, Jan. 1, 1883; John H.Oliphant, 
Oswego, Jan. 1, 188(i; Thomas M. Costello, Al- 
bion, Jan. ], 1889; Wdliam J. Pentelow, Fulton, 
.Tan. 1, 1892; E. E. Frost, Oswego, Jan. 1, 1895; 
John S. Parsons, Oswego, Jan. 1, 1898; Frank M. 
Breed, Phceuix, Jan. 1, 1901. 

Village Presidents.— Asa Sprague 1851 ; Luke 
I). Smith 1.S52; William W. Merriam 1853; Dr. 
Clark D. Snell 1854; Marlow Newell 1855; '62- o; 
Luther H. Conkliu 1856: '73-'7; George G. French 
1857; LaFayette Alfred 18.58 '9: '72'; Perlev J. 
Babcoek l8tJ0-'l ; David Goit 1864-'5; Dr. Benja- 
min E. Bo wen 1866; Daniel H. Stone 1867; Cal- 



;>0 



"GRIP'S" HISTOIUCAL SOUVEXDJ OF MEXICO. 



vin F. Brooks 1808; Heiuy L. Cole 18fi9; Winsor 
Beelie 1870; Sciibnrv A. Tnllfrl871: (ieorge H. 
(tooilwin 1878; Amos C. Thoiiipsou 187'.t: Miinrice 
L. Wright 188l)-'82: .Tohii 1). Hartson ms:i-T); 
Robert H. Bilker 188C,.'7; .Tiimes B. iJriggs 1888; 
Soloimm L. Alexiimler 188'.t; TiiiKithv W. Skin- 
ner I81I0; Frank :M. Earle ]8:il-"2;' Hiram W. 
Looniis ]8!I3; (ienrge H. Wilson ISiU; Dr. S. M. 
Bennett 1895; J, E. Baker H)()l; George H. Wil- 
son, 111(12 I present ineunibent). 

Mexico Grange. — The charter of Mexico 
(irange, Xo. 21S, bears date .Tune 20, 1874, and 
this is all the authentic history of Mexico Grange 
for tlie first twenty years of its existence, for the 
tire which destroyed the Boyd House also des- 
troyed all the papers and furnit ire of ^lexico 
(irange. Ho we are obliged to dejieud on the 
memory of the few Mirviving chaiter members for 
whatever history we may writ«. Its first organ- 



He was also supervisor of the town of ^lexico for 
nine years. Mrs. Sampson held majy important 
otliees in the grange, dischii-ging each and every 
duty faithfully. A kind friend and a true coun- 
selor. Mr Green joined the grange soon after its 
organization and soon became one of its staunch 
suj>p<irters, often sacrificing his own interests for 
the welfare of the grange. He, too, wa-s one of its 
early miusters. For more than twenty years he 
w;i.s road commissioner of the town of Mexico. 
Others have done well but space forbids further 
on this line. Mexico Grange is in good working 
order at the present time with A. D. Field as 
master and N. A. Samjison as secretary. With 
such men as these to the front, there is a bright 
future before it. With oni hundred ami tiftv 
members it is pre2iared fur aggressive work on all 
grange lines. It now meets ev<>ry Saturday at 2 ji, 
m., in the engine hou.se, butexpects to have lodge 
room.s of its own in the near future. 











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.\li:.\ICi) HK.\.\UK, No, :.'IS. 
. litrht) W. .<aiM|ison. Sii„ \. Whi-cler, I). I).vki\ Mrs. C. Stevi-iis, I'.i 



Hill slid, l-liiiio. 

Top How— ilrom litl to litrlit) W. .<ani|ison. Sii„ .\. Whi-cler, I). I).vki\ Mrs. C. Sti-vi-ns, I'oinona, 1). Hiil- 

sey, Trea.'*., S. <Ji n. Mis. Harris, ('er.. C. Ituok. .1. I.awton. Mr. Clearwater. MiiUIle Kow — Mr. Harris. St. 

Mrs. liililis, v.. >trs. N. liiii k, I,. \.. Mrs, .M. Kmerv, .M. It. Kiilils, Miss I,. 'I'rowl.ridji.-, Mrs. Ti owliri.ltfe, Mrs. 
Clearwater, Cliap., W. Itiu k. r.ower Itow — \V. Waitcin. .\. S., .\lrj. (!. Wlircler, Mrs. W. Kvarts, .Mis. \V. Samp- 
son, C. Stevens. 



ization consisted of twenty charter members with 
Frederick Sampson as its first master who is still 
living and is a pros])erous farmer in Onondaga 
county. It woidd be impo.ssible to give a consec- 
utive list of ina.sters or odicers duriiigtlie first two 
deciules of its existence, but we think it would be 
invidious to none of its meiuliers if we mention a 
few who were always faitliful and helped cheer- 
fully in sustainitig tlie grange by their presence 
and coun,sel. Tliere comes to our mind tliree in- 
dividuals who had, it teems to us, very much to 
do in the early history of our gi-ange, and those 
were Mr. and .Mrs. .\. E, Samiison and Veder 
Green. Mr. Samiison wa.s one of tlie earlier mas- 
ters and was thoroughly jiosted in all grange work 
and for a number of years was secretary and 
director in the Oswego t'ounty Belief .X.ssocuition. 



County Treasurers. — Peter Pratt, Mexico, 
181(5; Elias Brewster, Mexico, 1820; Avery Skin 
ner, Mexico, 1827; Robert A. Stitt, 18:!!); St«rr 
Clark, ISIO; Hiram Walker, IS-Ki; Stimuel H. 
Stone, Mexico. 1841); Henry V. Peck, Mexico, 
18.")"); Luther H. t'oiiklin, Mexico, 18.VS; .lohii 
Dowdle. O.swego. 1871*; George Goodier, Oswego, 
1882 (died in oflice in IS.SCi, the tirst year after his 
re-election); E, Eugene McKinstry, Oswego, (ap 
jiointed bv the supervi.sors in (ioodier's place) 
February,' 188{;: Thomas Moore, Oswego, 188(i, 
re-i'Iected 1881) and again every term since. 

First Postofffice in tlie town of ^lexicn. or 
Oswego county was established at Kotterdam, 
now Constantia, Jan. 1, 171)8, in the house of 
John Meyer who wa.s made the jiostmaster. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOEICAX, SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



21 



Mexico Fire Department. — An organization 
kimwu us the Bucket Company was formed iu the 
rear l.S.")5, with Daviil Uoit as foreman. In IHtU 
the village purehased a hand engine and then two 
new cnmpanie.s were fo'-med, the engine comi>auy 
with forty men and the hose company with twenty 
men, S. E. Sj>ooner being chief. This organiz 
ation continued for f-ome twenty years, during 
wliicli Mie following served as chief: W. \. ]{oli- 
liin.s, S. L. Alexander, A. J. Ha'leck, John Wing, 
F. B. (xregory. In 1.S87 the i)re.sent SUsby steam 
eugiuH was purchased by the village and a new 
organization wa-< formed, known as Mexico Fire 
l)epiirtuient, with John M. Wing as chief. This 
department tlieu consisted of fonr companies. 
The Engine Company, Weed and Sullivan Hose 
Conqianies and the Hook and Ladder ('omiiauy. 
The following .served as chief siuce the steamer 
was purchased: ISSS ,T. Schoonuiaker; ISSII A .T. 
llalleck: l.S'.IDF. B. (iregorv; IS'.ll .T,,hn Wiiic: 



1835; Jabez H. Gilbert. Orwell, Jan. 1, 1838; Nor- 
man Itowe, New Haven, Jan. 1, 1811; second term, 
Jan. 1, 1819; Marinns W. Matthews. Puhiski, Jan. 
1, 1811; Horace J. Cai-ey, Oswego, appointed to 
till vacancy by death of Matthews, Dec. 5, 1.S14; 
.\h'iu Lawrence, Mexico, Jam. 1, 1816; George W. 
Htillman, Orwell, Jan. 1, 1852; Eufm Hawkins, 
C)swego. Jan. 1, 1855; Charles A. Perkin.s, Con- 
stanlia, Jan. 1, 1858; Sidney M. Tucker, Pula.ski, 
Jan. 1, ISIJI; re-elected from Oswego. .Ian. 1, 1807; 
Robert]). Gilli.spie, Richland. Jan. 1, 18ii-l; Janaes 
Doyle. Oswego, Jan. 1, 1871); Henry H. Lymin, 
I'ulaski, Jan. 1, 1873; Frank S. Low. Pulaski, .Ian. 
1, 187(); J. Lyman Bidkley. Saudv Creek, .fan. 1, 
1870; Edwin L. Huntington, :\Ie\i'co, Jan. 2, 1882; 
Alfred N. Beadle, Pulaski, Jan. I. 1885; John 
Van Buren, New Haven. Jan. 1, LSSS; Amos .\11- 
liort, Scriba, .Ian. 1. 1891; Wilbur H. Stileck, 
Williamstown, Jan. 1, 1894; Wm. H. Euos, Scriba, 
Jan. 1, 1S97; Albert Warren. Jan. 1. 1900. 




Hiiested, Pboto. THE MEXICO FIKE DEPARTMENT. 

Top Row— (from left to right', .James Ti-yon F Smedley, .Secretary. F. Stewart, J. D. Coo. Foreman H. A: 
L. Co.: E. IJurdick, E. Pettinfrill. C. Fellows. .Middle Row— W. H. Sherman, Asst. Chief: C. Pettiugill. A. .J. 
Halleck, Foicman Hose Co., F. Pepper. G. Minckler, Chief; M. Freeman. Lower Row— W. Castle. O. Anus, 
C. Davis, \V. Elkins. M. Lamphier. 



18:13 Edward Potter; 1896 W. P. Lyons; 1899 
Frank Elkins; 1900 A. J. Halleck. At present 
the depatinent con'-ists of twenty-eight men with 
the following as officers: Gates M. Minckler, chief; 
Willi im H. Sherman, assistant chief; Frank 
Smedlty, secretary, and Robert Adams, treasurer; 
A. J. Halleck, foreman Hose and Jasper D. Coe, 
foreman Hook and Ladder. The old hand engme 
is .still the property of the village and is still in 
f.iirly g "id condition. 

Sheriffs. — John S. Davis (appointed), Pulaski, 
MiU-ch 21, 181(3; Peter Pratt (appointed), Mexico, 
Feb. i. 1820; Orris Hart (appointed), New Haven, 
Feb. 13. 1821; elected from 0,swego, Jan. 1, 1823; 
Asa Diidlev. Oswego town, Jan. 1, 1826; Hastings 
Curtiss, Hastings, Jan. 1, 1829; WiUiam Hale, Pu- 
laski, J.iu. 1, 1832; Jonathan Case, Fulton, J.an. 1, 



State Senators from Oswego County — Alvin 
Bronson, 1823-1, '30 3; Avery Skinner, Mexico, 
1838 11; Enoch B. Talcott, Oswego, 1815- (i (his 
term was cut short by an amendment to the con- 
stitution); Thomas H. Bond, Oswego, 1848-9; 
Moses P Hatch, Oswego, 1851; James Piatt, Os- 
wego, 1852-3; M. Lmdley Lee, Fulton, 1856-7; 
Cheney Ames, Oswego, 1858-9, '64-5; Andrew S. 
Warner, Pulaski, 1860-1; Richard K. Sanford, 
Fulton, 1862-3; John J. W'olcott, Voluey, 1.H66-7; 
Abner C. Mattoou, Oswego, 1868-9; William Fos- 
ter, Constantia, 1872-3; Benjamin DooUttle, Os- 
wego, 1876-7; George B. Sloan, Oswego, 1886-'91; 
Nevada N. Stranahan, Fulton, 1896-1902, 

Epidemics. — In 1812 a sweeping epidemic of 
cholera carried oft' many residents of Mexico. In 
1820 there were a large number of deaths from 
dveenteiT. 



'fJKirS' HTSTOHICAI. SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




U >ir..«r.| I'li.ilos, CKIIIiCi-; II. WILSON. 

.MAUV unices \V I I,S<IN. 

George7H. Wilson, the president cif llic vil- 
lage tif Mexico, was lioru iu Anilioy, Oswejjo Vik, 
Mivrch 21, lS:j(;. His father, Fraiieis Wilson, came 
from Ireland in 1827 and after living at Camden, 
N. Y., awhile, bouKht a farm at Aniboy, where 
the subject of this sketch liv« d until he was 17 
years of age. Then, at the death of his mother, 
he left home and, foUowiiig the trade of a cooper, 
tb'ifted to the south and east — among other places 
Richmond, Va., and New York. Finally, return- 
ing he spent about fifteen years iu Innibering in 
Oneida and Oswego cfniiities. buying standing 
timber with or without the lands, jilaciiig the bail; 
with the tanneries and 
manufacturing lumber 
for general use. At one 
time he in company with 
(teorge Swanson, a 
brother-in-law, o])erated 
a saw mill at t'amden, N . 
v., where they cut up 
large ipiantities of timber 
and dressed it f.'r the 
market, besides supply- 
ing a great deal of hem- 
lock for a branch railroad 
which was then I'cing run 
througU from Williams- 
town to Majile Hill for 
lumbering purposes and 
which long ngo was taken 
i.p. On Nov. 28, 1870, 
Mr. Wil.son married Mrs. 
Mary Sanders, the 
daughter of John and 
Maria |)rig;,'s of Mexico. 
The following year he 
went into the mercantile 
business at (Ueninore 
which he carried ou two 
years then removed his 
business to TalnTg wliert' 
he conducted a general ii,„o.vcd l'h.,to. 



store for 19 years. In 1883, iu coni)>any 
with Steadman Bros., he built a canning 
factory in the latter village. The Stead- 
mans retired soon thereafter and Mr. Wilson 
is still carrying on that factoiy. \ few 
years later he came to Mexico, his wile's 
<ild home, where Imtli desireil to live, and 
jmrc'liased b") acres of land on the line of the 
railroad wherein IHHS he erected the large 
factory from which he every year markets 
a large ontput of canned corn and puiii]ikiii. 
He refused 1o accejit any contriliiitinii from 
the village in thi' way of money or a site for 
his factory. In 18112 lie and Mrs. Wibon 
removed here and purchased the larg<' and 
I leasant home they now occujiy < n Church 
street. From the Taberg and Mexico 
fact<iries Mr. Wilson turns out on the 
average two millions of canned products 
when the seasim is favorable for the harvest, 
and gives emiiloymeiit during canning time 
to between 200 and 'MM peopli'. The goods 
are sold to the largest .jobbers and dealers 
ill the country. Mr. Wilson while a resident 
of Taberg served a year as su]iervisor of the 
town of Annsville. He is now in his third 
term as president of Mexico In all mat- 
ters relating to local public improve- 
ment he is active, and as a trustee of the Metho- 
dist church for several years he has been a liberal 
supporter of that society. 

John Driggs, one of the early settlers of the 
town of ilexico, came with his wife from Berk- 
shire Co., Mass., in 1839, traveling with both a 
wagon and a sleigh, one being carried upon the 
other, as the condition of the weather and roiuls 
re(piired. The .journey as far as Rome was made 
on wheels and from that place up into the par- 
tially opened country, over mere tracks leading 
through the woods until the party reached its des- 
tiii.ition, on runners. Mrs. Driggs ("Maria Rald- 




GEOUGI-: 11. WIUSn.N'S KKSIDEXCF.. 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



2:! 




ni,i imh.ius. .mah:.\ uai.dwin dkigu.s 

JOHN DKKiGS. 

«iu) WHS descended from a distiugiiished Massa- 
ihusetts fanily, her father, a soldier iu the 
American revokition, haviDp; .served many year.s 
in the legislature of that eommiinwealth. Two of 
her brothers served in the war of 1812. Mr. 
Driggs tirst bought a farm three miles from Mex- 
ico and afterwards moved to Coloss-^ where he was 
hving at the time of the war of 18111-'"). He was a 
staunch defeoder of the Uninu and was active in 
promotmg enlistments in the federal armj from 
this toivn, contributing liberally for that purpose 
from his jiersonixl means. Later he located a 
mile .south of Mexico village, when' Mrs. Driggs 
died in 18(57. 

Mr. Driggs was one of the large number of 
"forty-niners" who was attracted to the west at 
the time of the di-scovery of gold iu California. 
During the last four years of his lite he resided iu 
the village of Mexico where his death occiured iu 
1883 he then being 80 years of age. 

Colosse was the first village dignified as such 
and with a i)ostoffice in the town of Mexico. It 
first started liom a small settlement begun at the 
crossing of the two highways leading from the 
unsettled frontiers of Oswego county to the chain 



of settlements which were then, early in the 
nineteenth centuiy, springing up across 
the central part of the state. One of these 
roads connected Oswego with Camden and 
Rome, and the other led from Salina to 
Sacketts Hjirbor. 

The hamlet was first kn<nvn iis iNIexico 
I'ciiir Corners. About l.Sl()-'.3() a number 
of French families had settled here, the 
most prominent being Peter (iray who 
arrived iu 1.S42 and started a store, also run- 
ning a .saw mill and manufacturing wagons. 
.\uiong others who came that year were 
Fiederick Le Clair, Lande Shapney, Francis 
Henry, Francis ^Nlatty, (ieorge and Peter 
Boigeal, (ieorge Turout, John Perot, Jacob 
Racine, Fred Pettit, Francis and Louis 
Larobardier, (Jeorge RoUen, Antoine Salla- 
diii, Telfus Boprey, Fred au<l (ieorge Beley 
and Francis Villiard. 

The first settlers here si> far as is known, 
were Perry Allen and Elisha Huutley. 
Lorenzo Huntley lived on the old homestead 
many years. Lyman Huntley became a 
physician. About 1817 Judge Bates erected 
a tavern adjacent to the store which was 
opened by Rufus Tiii'any in 181(). The 
latter place of business afterwards went into the 
hands of Milton Harmon and subsecpiently Lean 
der Parkhurst. About 1810 Henry Webb was 
engaged in trade here but he sold out to Thomas 
and Charles L. Wel)b and moved tt) Mexico vil- 
lage. The Union Stiu-e Stock Co. was succeeded by 
John Becker who was succeeded by his son and a 
jiartuer named Richardson. R. \. Burke was one 
of the early iiierchants who sold out to George 
({. Brown & Son, who in turn were succeeded by 
Peter (iray. The latter was .succeeded liy his son, 
James Gray. William A. and James A. Johnson 
were merchants who burned out in Decemlier, 
1853. In 1821 Paul AUen l)uilt the .second tavern 
in the village; also an ashery and distillery. In 
1822 Joseph Deveudorf started a tannery and 
shoe .shop and he was .succeeded by Truman Rood. 
About the same time Marshall Fairchild was en- 
gaged in making hats. Among those who afiei-- 
« arils kept tavern here were F. L Barnes, L. D. 
Snell and Seymour Worden. The early black- 
smiths were Alvin Richai-dstm and Sidney D. 
Markham. The early po.-tmasters were Alvin 
Richardson, Orange Frary, Cbauncey (i. Frary, 
his son, Cyrus H. Harvey, Edwin T. Johnson, 
Welister jl. Richardson," Peter Gray, Cyrus F. 





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liorrowud Photo. GEORGE H. WILSONS MEXICO CANNING FACTOKY. 



24 



"GUIl>'S" HISTOUICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Allen auil James Gray. Dr. Tenuant wsis the first 
physician. Sauford Doiifjla-ss opened a school, 
the first in the town of Mexico, iu IHOH. 

Colossc Hiirlior was at one time the dream of 
some of tile energetic and eiiteri)rising residents 
of that village. For the purpose of elVectiug this 
ent<'rpiise the Colosse Hvdiaiilic C!o., was organ- 
ized with a capital of .ii;.'>,IIO(l on A]iril 12, 1.S42. 
Tbi' incorporators were (Ivrus Allen. Sidnc'V D. 
Markhini, Leandei- Parkhurst, .\lvin Kiehardson, 
Cliarles L. WeKU, William .\. Bates, Thomas 
Wel)l>, Artemns Church and J<ihn^I. Richardson. 
The plan was to deepen the ]icind of Nicholas iv 
Chamliers ami enclose it with docks. Then dig a 
canal connecting the pond with Lake Ontario, 
most of the way using the <-hannel of Little Hal 
mon river. 

The Missionary and Aid Society of the 

Presbyterian chtirch was withoiit dou1>t ooteni- 
porary with the organization of the church. Wh' n 
men heg'n to preach and pray, wonn u began to 
work and also to pray. The oldest niem^ ers have 
long since passed on and many of the older mem- 
bers have recently died. Mrs. Benj.iniin Stoni' 
and the first Mrs. Gardner Tidlar who.se death is 
of comparatively recent date were useful and d(>- 
voled members who are still much missed. Mrs. 
.h)seph Stone who dif<l a year ago was also a dc- 
voIimI Member. Other deaths which occurred 
witliin a year are Mrs. (iaidner Tidlar, Mrs. Ktliel 
Stillinan Johnson :.nd Mrs. W. W. Kingsley. 
The present officers arc Mrs. H. Humphries, 
jiresident; Miss Grace Becker, vice president; Mrs. 
N. \V. WoodrufV, secretary; Mi.ss Faunie Thomas, 
treasurer: Mrs. T. .1. Green, superintendent of 
work; also a committee on suppers and a com- 
mittee on literary aial devotional program. The 
society is in evtry way a harnionioi s and pros- 
]ii rolls one. Every year one or ii.ore bariels of 
clotliing and bedding are sent to mission s<diools 
anil hospitals and th<' needy ones of the town are 
clofiied. 

Young Ladies Cooking- Club. — The organi- 
zation of the Young Ladies t'ooking Club took 
plaice in the fjlof l.S'.KS for the purpose of instruct- 
ing its memliers in the mysterious arts of fancy 
cooking. The club was formed with a member- 
ship of twenty-two, the fir.st presiilent being Miss 
^lalilc Helen (iass who for two years proved her- 
self a most able manager. The charter members 
of the clul) were as follows: Edith C. L. Ure, 
Margaret O. Newell, (irace Brown, Nina Bracy. 
.\nna Louis Haydon, Eva Lee, Lulu Belle King- 
sley, Lila Schoonmaker, Eva Sharra, Blanche 
Wetmore, Edith May Hendrieksou, Jlollie Belle 
Aliller, Mal)lc Helen Gass, Grace C. Markham, 
Monica Brown, .Vllie C'lark, Jennie Z. Johnson, 
May I'illa Mahar, Cora Velonner Potter, Len* 
Calkins mid Mable L. Cobb. In HXMl Miss Lulu 
Haydon was called to the president's chair and 
was also j)ersua<led to liold othce for two years. 
In December i'Mfl Miss .\l]ie CLrk was honm'ed 
witli the office of presiih'nt whose duties it is to 
appoint a menu committee and inform the im m- 
bers of the chili where the next meeting will be 
held. She also selet^ts two young ladies who 
serve the supper or six o'clock dinner for which 
the club has become famous; also two others are 
nime 1 to see that tli-^ kitchen ai Tell as the p:ir- 



lors are left in perfect order before the closing of 
the meeting. Each memlier entertains the club, 
once a year the meetings being held twice each 
month. Many enjoyable afternoons and evenings 
are spent in this way by the club which still con- 
tinues to meet although its memliers are leaving 
(own to take up their work and homes in different 
parts of the country. Only t\velv<' of the charter 
members are now ]ireseut at the meetings namely : 
Miss Newell, Miss ]\Iarkliam, Miss (iass, Jliss 
Clark, Mi.ss Kingsley, Miss.Tohnson, Mis.s Miller, 
Mrs. Stone, ^Mrs. Minckler, :\Iis. Wilmarfh, :yirs. 
Oxner and Mrs. Hall. Each summer the club 
takes an outing at Mexico Point luid during the 
fall and winter many dainty dinners imd luncheons 
are served to which each member is allowed to 
firing a friend. Occasionally the old members 
come home and are always eager to vi.sit the Cook- 
ing Clul i where we all gather and tidk over the 
good old days of yore. 

Mexico Country, Ifil.^; as descrilied by an 
explorer,— -■'Chestnut woods," as Champlain, the 
French explorer calls them, were found Viy him. 
sjiread out to great extent, while he was crossing 
the town of Mexico on his memorable expedition 
against the Senecas in 1(115, when he landed at 
Salmon river and passed over the present site of 
Mexico village on his way to the Oswego river. 
.Vll of the early exploring jiarties from the north, 
who came down here liefore the arrival of the 
English, and there were many, as well as the 
pioneer settlers in the l!Hh century, described this 
section as having an abundance of lierries, nuts, 
fruits and vine. Before the country w:is cleared 
up the beech which bears the nut of that name — a 
small nut of very rich flavor — grew in abundance, 
and from Champlain's own words that was what 
he evidently took to be a small sjiec'cs of •'chest- 
nut,' the lieechnut being evidently unknown to 
him. 

The Dorcas Mission Circle, auxiliary to the 
Woman's Home Missionary society, was organized 
.\pril (i, IS'.fS. at the home of Mrs. L. B. Cobli, 
with thirteen memliers. The following ofhcers 
were elecled: President, Mrs. S. J. Ram.sey; first 
vice Jiresident. Lillie Conway: .second vice luesi- 
dent, Etta Stone; third vice president, Mrs. Char- 
lie Ward: recording secretary, Mollie ^Miliar: 
corres]ionding secretary, Mrs. (Jeorge (Ja.ss; trea.s- 
Tirer, Mrs. Mandigo; su]ierintendent, Jlrs. Delia 
HoUister; assistant su]ierintendent, Mrs. L. B. 
(Jobb. Our meetings are held the second Wed- 
nesday evening in each month at the home of tlie 
memliers. light refreshments being .served. Each 
year we have sent a box of clothing to Kent 
Home, North Carolina, valued at S.")0. For the 
past two years, in addition to the box, we have 
paid $5(1 a" year for the support of a girl in the 
home. Our present meinVier8hi]i is 2(!. 

The First American Flap was accepted by 
congress and adopted by resolution by that body 
.lune 14, 1777. It was made by Betsey Ross in 
177(i at No. '2;t9 Arch strei't, Philadelphia, where 
.she was visited by Robert Morris and George 
Ross, a committee of I'ongress appointed to .see 
the colors when they were comiileted that they 
might rejiort upon the design. Thev were accom- 
panied liy George Washington who Lad just been 
made coinmandcr-in-chicf of the American army. 



'GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIK OF MEXICO. 



25 



The Woman's Home missionary iiuxiliary 
(if Mexico First ^^. E. claircli was nrpuiizeil 
March, 18J)1, with ahout twenty charter members. 
Mrs. O. L. (iritlith, of precious meinorv, was 
elected president; Miss Etlie Beny, recording sec- 
rebiry: Mrs. L. G. Ballard, treasiu'er; Mrs. J. C. 
Diirling, corresponding secretary. These ofHcers 
were retained three years during which time the 
memhershiji increased to forty. At the annual 
nu'eting in ]Mil4 the officers I'leeted were Mrs. 
Delia Jlollister, pre.sident; Mrs. V. W. Lyons, 
treasurer; Mrs. V. H. Walton, recording secre- 
tary; Miss Effie Berry, corresjjondmg .secretary. 
In IKOli Mrs. L. B. Cohli was elected president; 
Mr.'i. F. Jluuson, recording secretary. During 
the three years of Mrs. Clobb's ])resideucy Mrs. 
H. W. Cook, Jlrs. V. H. Walton and Mr.s". D. H. 
Austin served as treii-surer, and Mrs. Ella Ba'l and 
Mrs. .T. J. C'olib as corresponding secretary. At 
the annual electi<m in 1S99, the officers were Mrs. 
Ella Ball, |iresident, Mrs. Delia Trowbridge, re- 
cording secretary ; Mr.s. L. J. Clark, treasurer and 
Mr-i. F. Suiedley, corresjwnding secretary. In 
1!H)1 Jlrs. F. Muuson was elected president; Mrs. 



The Thimble Club, as its name implies is a 
society of a practical as weU as a social character. 
It was organized in November, litOO. by twelve 
young ladies. Miss Anna Bard, the first presi- 
dent, is still retained in that office. The met^tings 
ure usually held every two weeks at the homes of 
the different members and while of a social nature, 
nuich needle work is accomplished. Befresh- 
nients are served liy the ho.stess. Once a year 
tlu' husbands and gentlemen friends ar<' entertained 
at a dinner and a great many other social ull'airs 
are given. The badge of tlie club is a silver scroll 
with tlie letters "T. C, IKUO." The nicmliers are 
Miss .\una Bard, Mrs. Spencer Bamsey, Mrs. Wil- 
bor Jiu'dan, Mrs. Earl Taylor, Mrs. F. L. Kellogg, 
I\Irs. F. L. Hoose, Mrs. "B. .7. Marks, Miss Jose- 
])hinc Newttm, Mrs. Gates Minckler, Mrs. (}eo. 
(iass, Mrs. Milo Graves, Miss Flora M. Darling, 
Miss Lena L. Hoose. Mrs. L. D. Pulsifer of De 
liuyter, foriui'rly Miss Lulu \. Iluntingtou, was a 
cliarter menil>er. 

Baptists in Os^vego County. In ISSll tliere 
were fourteen churches, eleviMi clergymea and 
]H:-i!l (rommunicauts in the Baptist as.sociation of 
Oswego county, viz: Colosse, C Mar.-shaU, pattor, 






1.1k;S 



mm 



Huested, I'liotn. W( >.M.\N>; Hu.\l K .M l>.s|n.N.\ H V ^iiclETV, .\l. K, i HI lie H. 

Top nnv— (Irom let t tci riirlit) Mrs. T. Pepper, .Mrs. 1'. Thomas, Mrs. G. Robl)iDS, Mrs. W. Lansin'r, .Mrs. \V. liracy, 
Mrs. K. A<iame. Mrs. M. riark, Mrs. IJ. Pond, .Mrs. E. Petliniiill, Mrs, M. Mitchell, Jlrs. C. riiadwiek. Midille How- 
Mrs. V. Lowell, .Mrs. ('. ISiirdick, Mrs. W. Swoethind, K. Sec, Mrs. M. Stone, Mrs. H. .Munson, Pres., Mrs. A. Cole, Mrs. 
E. liall, Mrs. Snow. Lower Kow— Mrs. I/. Dillenbc^ck. Mrs. E. Smith. Cor. Sec, Mrs. .J. Cobb, Mrs. D. Austin, Vice 
Prts., Mrs. P. Morgan, Treas., Mrs. L. Whitney. .Mrs. E. Stevens, Mrs. E. Huntington. 



Mary Sweetland, recoi-ding secretary; Mrs. P. 
Morgan, treasurer; Mrs. E. Smith, correspond- 
ing secretary. .\t the annual election in 1903 the 
following officers were elected: Mrs. S. Oxner, 
president; Mrs. Carrie G. Burdick, recording sec- 
retary; Miss Effie Berry, treasurer, and Mrs. 
Cha.s. Sharp, corresponding secretary. The aux- 
iliary now comi)rises about seventy memljers. 
The Woman's Home ^Missionary Society covers a 
broad field for wherever the stars and stripes 
wave, there is Home JMissionary soil, and we may 
expect to meet workers supported by the auxiliaries 
through the ditl'erent bureaus among which we 
may mention the industrial homes of many south- 
ern states, deaconess work, frontier ministers, 
immigrant home in New York City, and many 
others; also believing charity should begin at 
home, our own are not neglected. The Tither's 
Pledge has been adojitcd by several of our mem- 
bers who acknowledge the Bible plan of giving to 
be the best way. 



1(51 members; Hannibal, P. Wootlin, 257; Hast- 
ings. S. I). Dean, 68; Mexico, W. Frary, 109; 

New Haven, W. Frary, 72; Orwell, ^ , 43; 

Oswego, J. Waterman, J. Hallinbeck, C. W. Den- 
nison, 237; Palermo, A. Keith, 38: PhiBuixville, 
N. Camp, 52; Pidaski, C. B. Taylor, 89; Parish, 
D. Martin, 30, Richland, E. Burdick, 84; Sandy 
Creek 62 ; Volney, , 39. 

The Young Woman's Foreign Missionary- 
Society of the M. E. church was organized by 
Miss Coit in 1887 with about twelve members. At 
present it has a membership of thii-ty-nine. The 
meetings are held the second Monday of each 
month at the homes of the members. The follow- 
ing are the officers : President, Mrs. H. W. Whit- 
ney; vice }iresident, Miss Carrie Crosier; secretary. 
Miss Anna Berry; treasurer, Mrs. S. A. Ramtey. 
The society is doing good work helping in the 
support of missionaries, orjihans and Bible 
women. 



20 



"GIUP'S" HISTOUICAL SOUVENIll OF MEXICO. 



1 


F ' 

m 



LACHA CONK .-^MITH. 
IJorrowi'd I'hotns. 



Daniel Smith.— In 1W2<> Diiniel Smith and 
liiinia Cone, liotli of Whitostown, Onciila (Jo., 
were niaiTieil iiml settled three miles east of the 
village of Mexico. They Imilt a log structure 
where tliere was nothing Imt forests. Frank (i- 
Smith of this village was l)orn in that house, also 
his sister, Hcden C. Smith, deceased, whom no 
one knew Imt to love. After some years Daniel 
Smith built a frame house and jmrchased quite 
a traet of land whieh made iij) a good sized larm 
and which is now known as tlie .lason Wriglit 
farm. Twelve children were horn to Daniel and 
Laura Smith, two of whom are living, Frank (i. 
Smith of this village, and Henry C Smith of Los 
Angeles, Cal. One daughter, Ko.sette Smith 
Muii^hy, was known for her ]ihy.sical cliariiis and 
loveliness of character. 

The Epworth League of the Firnt Metliodist 
church was organized in Di'cemlier, l.SKo. In 
1MH7, through the etVorts of the i)a.stor, Kev. W. 
K. C'ohh, a CHiristian 
Kntlenvor Society was or 
ganized. After many 
years of usefulness it was 
thought best, during the 
liastorate of Kev. H. \V. 
Hennett, to re-organize 
and the society became 
Chajiter No. looTl, Ep- 
worth League, in Decem- 
ber. IH'.t."). The present 
membership is 7.'). The 
regular business lueetings 
are held the last We(l- 
nesday evening of the 
month. The luesent cab- 
inet is; President, Lena 
L. Hoose; tirst vice i>resi- 
dpnt,Mrs.(!e<u-geMeDou- 
ald; second vice presi- 
dent, Lilian Longstreet: 
lliinl vice president. Mrs. 
II. \V. Whitney: f(mrlli 
vice i)resideut, .Mrs.Sjien- 
eer Uam.sav ; se<'retjirv, 
Mollie H. 'Miller; treiis- 
nrer, Carl Ballard. 



The Colosse Baptist Church, the first chiu'ch 
society organized in the town of Mexico and the 
second in Oswego county, was started at a meet- 
ing held at the n-sidence of .\mos Williams (now 
in the town of Parish) on Sunday, .Tune 1."). 18(l(i. 
Elder Williams was the pioneer preacher in this 
))art of the county. The moving E|>irit of the new 
society was Rev. (iamidiel Barnes, who preached 
on that and following occasions. On Jan. 7, 1S07, 
further steps were taken but the organization was 
not perfected until Oct. l.'i, IHI)7. On .luly l!. 
IS] 4, the society wius dis.solved but was again 
organized, as the Bajitisl church of Mexico, Aug. 
2ii, ]Hb"), at a meeting held in the .school building 
of school district No. 1 Inow in the town of Par- 
ish |, with a fellowship of eighteen brethren and 
sisters, twelve delegates from .Tetlerson county 
being in attendance. The following day the 
organiziition was i>erfected with the right hand of 
fellowship. 

The Moderator at this council was Bev Kraoiy 
Osgood and the clerk. Kev. Maitin E. Cook. The 
members were Gamaliel Barnes, Barnet Whipple, 
William R.Huntley, .Tames Koberts.Sam'l and.lno. 
]\Lanwaren, Asa Barnes, Stutely Palmer, jr . Han- 
nah Barnes, Hannah Uoberts. Fanny Manwareii. 
Eunice Mauwaren, Prudence Carr, Lowry Barnes, 
("aroline Barnes, Tjvdia Barne", Polly Mor.s<> and 
Bethiah Williams. 

Rev. (iamaliel Barnes was chosen for the lir.st 
])ast(ir and Allen and Stutely Palmer, jr., deacons. 
The latter was the first clerk. 

During the ensuing nine years the little congre- 
gation "worshiped around,' in farm houses and 
school houses, the most convenient jilace to ac- 
commodate ditVerent neighborhoods. < lenerally 
the meetings were held at ^lexico Four Corners 
(Colosse). the old red mill being sometimes used 
for that inirpose. 

The erection of a church building in the village 
of ('■•losse. the tirst church edifice in the county of 
Oswego, was the outcome of ell'orts which first 
took form at a meeting helil Nov. o, \H'2\. It was 
two years later, however, when work on the 
structure was begun and it was not nntil fall in 



IlA.MKI. S.MITII. 




Hlii>li-.l, IMiol... Kl'W 

1, .Miss Lena H(>i>8c, :.'. M 



iiifi'ii i.i;.\i.i i;. .M. K. rmiuii. 

s.s l.illliHi I.iintrstrift. :i. .Mrs Herliert Wliltni'.v. 4, .Mr?. 



Spencer Itamsey, 6, Miss Mollio Millir. li. .Mr. Curl ll.illiird, T. Itev. M. D. SMI. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVEXIR OF MEXICO. 



27 



the following vear, 1824, thiit the edifice was eom- 
pleteil. The cost aggi-eRiited $2,.J00. The build- 
iug was put nj) close to the neighborhood cemetery 
ami sheds were erected. It was 4*i.\:ill feet, the 
ceiling being 20 feet clear of the tloor. The jiul- 
jiit wrts a box like enclosure reached liy a flight of 
stejis. The pews were enclosed with gates, thost' 
abutting the side walls being square aud those 
along the center aisle being box slij^s. On the 
two sides were galleries. The frame of the build- 
ing was hard wood and the siding pine. The 
congregation worshiiiiped here the tirst winter 
without tires. At the dedication of the church in 
bS24 Rev. Nathaniel .T. (iilbert preached. On 
Dec. 30, 1S78. it was rededii'ated, when Rev. G. 
\. Ames of Pnla.ski 2)reached. That year, in De- 
cember, the building was altered. The room was 
divided horizontally making two .stories, the 
upjier jiart being furnished for theaTiditorium and 
the lower i>art for church socials, prayer meetings 
and to accommodate other occa.sions. Ten years 
later the building was closed for repau's and in 
November, 1S8:3, was again oiiened for regular 
services. A Sunday school in connection with 
the church was organized in 1S28. At one time 
the society numbered I'M members. The pastors 
of the church down to 1876 named in the order of 
their re.sjiective pastorates were : Gamaliel Barnes, 
Nathaniel Gilbert, Enoch Ferris, William Wat- 
kins. George B. Davis, John I. Fulton, Edmund 
(ioodenough, WiUiam Storrs, Charles Miirshall, 
Newell Boughton, David McFarland, Peter Goo, 
Ira Dudley, .Albert C'ole. .Tudson Davis, Jlortimer 
V. Wilson, Lemon i). (ialpin, .Tudson L. Davis, 
Thomas .T. Seigtried, Elam D. Phillips, Chai'les 
Sherwood. 

Deserters assisted by Mexico Settlers; the 
•'Blind Trail" to the Little Salmon river. — For 
some years after the close of the revolutionary 
war the Briti.sh occupied the post at Oswego and 
there were frequent desertions from that army. 
Settlers living along the Ontario lake shore, the 
country thereabcmts then being sjiarsely settled, 
sympathized with deserters, largely because of 
their natural antipathy to an enemy with whom 
they had for a long time been at war, and whom 
they desired to injure. So that wherever there 
was a cabin within reach of the British posts it 
was occasionally subjected to a .sudden and rigor- 
ous search for deserters by a party of red-coats. 
This was the case in the eastern jiart of the town 
of Mexico where a few log cabins stood, at Vera 
Cruz which had suddenly sprung into being, and 
farther north between the Salmon river and Sandy 
Creek: and esjiecially idong the latter stream — a 
cou.ntry Into which the settlers were then pene- 
trating. Deserters from the posts on the St. 
Law rence frequently made their way west to the 
lake, sometimes as hands employed on sailing ves- 
sels and other times by retreating along timber 
jiaths and depeudiijg u}>on the good services of 
the .\merican settlers. There was what was called 
"a bhnd trail," used to facilitate the escape of 
these men into the heart of the state, which dur- 
ing the years of 17y0-';t4 was used frequently. To 
strike dii'ectly south from the St. Lawrence river 
Wiis impossil)le owing to the vast stretch of unin- 
habited country, for the fringe of settlements that 
had to be reached to insiu-e safety extended across 
the center of the state following the Mohawk 



river to Fort Stanwix, with an interim of woods to 
Onondaga and at infrequent distances we.st from 
there into the new county of Ontario. So in 
c^der to siibist while eHecting their escape the 
poor wretches from the river posts heailed west. 
They were always warmly received, fed and piloted 
on from liiiuse to house, as was the case with 
slaves from the South, a half century later who, 
heading for Canada, came noi'th by the way of 
Syracii.se. Sometimes a party of Indians fishing 
at the mouth of the Salmon river, usually the 
( )neidas, were induced to ])ilot the I?ritish refugee 
to Fort Stanwix; but usmdly he worked :i.s far 
west as Ijittle Salmon river where during the 
earliest ])eriod following the war werea few cabins 
and from there was piloted across country to Fort 
Brewerton, thence south to Salina and Onondaga 
Hollow, the tw i> frontier hamlets in existence dur- 
ing the years mentioned. 

Society in Old Mexico, 1802, as seen by 
Puritanical I'yes, is described by the Presbyterian 
"Missionary," Rev. John Taylor, as follows: 
"I'reached to about forty people [Sej)!. 2, east 
end of the town]. The most I can say is that the 
people behaved with tolerable decencj- — 3 or 4 
left the house in sermon time. Gave one Ijible, 2 
addresses (printed] and a hidf a dozen catechisms 
to such ])ersons as I thought would receive them. 
The people are in general nothing-arians or fatal- 
ists — or ^lethodists aud Ba]itists, who are the 
worst of all. The people stand in sjiecial need of 
assistance and most of them are very thankful for 
everything which is done for them in a religious 
way.' The people meet every Sabbath and per- 
form regular exercises by praying, reading and 
preaching. I have seen no people who I think 
stand more in need of the cultivating hand of the 
societies [ New England Missionary which sent 
him here | than this, unless it be Camden. They 
have no projjer books to read upon the Sabbath 
and indeed nothing but a few ordination sermons. 
[IJ gave an order for one of the select sermons, 2 
bibles, ti Dodridge's Addiesses, 10 catechisms and 
1 of the Societies' Addresses." The next day this 
good man reports that he was "a little unwell from 
bad diet." He adds, -'Took i)hy.sic and olitained 
some relief." 

Mexico Was Incorporated Jan. lo, 18.51. 
The fir.-,t village board was O. H. Whitney, Dr. 
Clark D. Snell, James S. Chandler, David Goit 
and Asa Sprague. The first vOlage treasurer w;us 
Seabury A. Tuller, clerk Cyrus Whitney, assessors 
Ezra c! Mitchell and R. L. Alfred, collector John 
A. Fort and poundmaster Grandus Ciregory. 

Texas is a small hamlet on Little Salmon river 
three-fourths of a mile from the lake, which sup- 
plies the summer hotels and cottages on the shore 
of the like with their mail. A store and post- 
oftice were first located at this jjoint, although 
building of houses at first inclined toward the lake 
where it was intended that a pretentious village 
and harbor known as Vera Cruz should be built. 
When in 1820 fire swept away all that constituted 
^'era Cruz, the name of Texas was given to this 
locality. S. P. Robinson then established a boat 
vai'd on the river at this place. At one time a 
paper mOl was running here. 



28 



'(ilUP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Noted Names of Mexico.— Among those from 
MisiiMi who ha\r (listiDguishcd themselves are the 
following; Morgi.ii T.. iiml (iiles Smith, sons of 
Cvrns Smith, reared on a farm, followed Sherman 
iind Grant in their eampai^ns, one as a major 
general, the other as brigadier general. Roth 
were intimate friends of Sherman and (irant, and 
in ii historv of (ien. Sherman their names were 
espccinllv "mentioned. After the war :\Iorgan was 
sent to Honoluln as consul, and (Iiles was ap- 
pointed second assistant postmaster general. 
Hon ('. R. Skinner, superintendent of piiblu; 
instruction, Judge ISIaurice Wright, Rev. George 
Mains Prof. Charles Wheeler entomokigist of 
Wiishi'ogton, 1). C, and I'rof. H. W. Slack of St. 
ra\il Minn., were all schoolmates. Among the 
pedagogues are Rrofe-ssor Nicholas Knight, I'ro- 
tessors Elmer and Frederick Loomis, all of whom 
studied special coiu'ses in Europe, and Rev. C. H. 

Among the editors are W. C. Stone of the Cam- 
ilen Advance, I^. R. Muzzy tor several years 
editor of Pulaski Democrat, H. O. Elkins of Steii- 
hen Countv Courier, and C. H. Plumley of Fargo, 

N. 1). 

C". L. Stone i- a succ-cssful lawyer m Syracuse, 
Courtland Rrown and ^Nlyron Collins are lawyers 
of Denver. F. W. Severance is a lawyer in New 
York. William Rallou ot New York ha.s launched 
seviral successful novels on the literary world. 
Frederick Dewey is a successful architect in New 

York. , , 

Three missionaries spent (lieir early days in 
Mexico. Rev. Frank Tuli\>s went for several 
vears to Mexico and Soutli America. He is now 
Doctor of Divinity in Ohio; Rev. George Stone, 
son of (i. W. Stone, went to Arabia, but died be- 
fore he had scarcely liegun his work; Rev. A. D. 
IJevrv went lasi Jniy as a missionary to .lai>an. 

Willis Heaton is a successful lawyer in Hoosick 
[•'alls and surrogate of Rensselaer ('o. Among the 
women ?ili-s Emma Reebe now of Iowa, is an 
artist of note and autlior of a successful Sunday 
school book, and Mary Ilutchi' s Hatl away liad a 
successful prai-ticc as a pliysiciau in Oswego. 

Salmon Fishing.— A cent\iiy ago salmou were 
found in tlie stieaiiis in this village in great abun- 
dance weighing some times twenty five ])ounds. 
At times they passed up the stream in shoals, 
their liright tins lliushing on the water like silver 
in the sunlight. The poor pioiu>ers some years 
had little else to eat. This was belVu-e the day of 
bridges and mill dams and the early .settlers crossed 
Salmon Creek on a huge log which spanned the 
stream near where Osboru's State and Toronto 
Mills stand. Salmon were so plenty that the 
fishermen used to stand on this rude log bridg(> 
and spear them with a piU^h fork. A Mrs. Ijocke 
while washing clothes one day by thel>rook wliieli 
passes through Mexico village cemetery caught in 
her a]>ron out of a deep hole one weighing thir- 
teen pounds. 

Scriba's Patent was bounded by a line begin- 
ning on the south shore of Salmon river east of 
Port Ontario village and running southeast, south 
ot the village of Pulaski, thence following the 
boundary line of .\lbion and Williamstown on the 
north, and the line between Lewis and Oneida 
counties to Fi.sh creek, tlu'iicc along that stream 
and the north shore of Oneida lake; thence along 
Oneida and Oswego rivers to Lake Ontario. 



Ancient Cities In Mexico.— According to 
several authorities the conntiy comprised ia the 
old town of :Mexico was, long Viefore ColumV.us 
discovered Ameirca, occupied by a large coloniza- 
tion of Finns. Danes and Welshmen, who in the 
eighth and ninth centuries gradually moved simth 
from Jcehmd, (ireenland and Laborador to the 
St. Lawrence, and crossing th it river spread them- 
selves out along till' south shoi-es of Lakes ( )nturio 
and Erie. 

Dr. Mitchell (.A-rcha. Anier.) calls the country 
of the Ontario, that region especially described 
by him at this end of the lake in the town of Mex- 
ico, as the Autijiodal Regions of the eighth and 
ninth centuries, w liere the Scaudinaviiins crossing 
from lOurope to north-eastern America and migrat- 
ing southwest, and the fierce Tartars crossing from 
Asia to northwestern America and migrating to 
the southeast met in bloody conHict which resulted 
in the extinction of the Scaudaiiavians. Seven 
centuries later, the French .sent their Jesuits down 
into this country and fouud the .\merican Indian, 
who had descended from a race ot ^lidays, which 
thev in a sense resemble. 

While tlie original occupants of the t)ntarin 
hike regi(m had become extinct. i)lainly discerned 
traces of their presence were apiiaivnt as late as 
1H2I) and ISSIl. Rema'ns of what are considered 
traces of large cities and fortifications were, be- 
fore the agiicultiirist began to ph)wthe soil.fouml 
in the towns of Sandy Creek, Richland, :Me\ico. 
New Haven, Volney, Granby, Hannil)al and Os- 
wego. 

[ii many ]>laccs there are evident nuirksof holl^e8 
having stood as thi' k as to join each other. The 
remains of old fireplaces built of stones— wells 
mideutly dug and stoned to aonsiderable depth; 
and the remans of old fo!-ts and entreuehmeiits. 

Oswego is a corruption of Ochouegen (Odi- 
we-geii), the original name given to the locality 
now occupied by the city of Oswego by the Iro- 
(piois Indians. .\t the foot of the blutf (m both 
sides of the river the Indiuis pitchnl t'leir h> Iges 
and drew in large (pnuitities of fish. There they 
exchanged goods or met in treaty with tlie tribes 
from the north of Like Out, mo. Ochouegen, 
pronounced in the lulian gntteral ga-.e to the 
French tlie tei III ('liou>en. whii-h was the name 
thev used for that locality. The English, how- 
ever, caught the entirely ditVerent pronnneiation, 
Oswego. 

The Roosevelt Patent was granted by the 
state to .lohn ami Nicholas Uoosevelt in Aug. 171>1. 
It contained olMl.DDI) acres and the price jiaid was 
77.0S:i jiounds, f; shillings andH pence. The tract 
was then described as bring bounded northerly by 
th(> Alexander Macomb purchase, eiusterlv bv Oot- 
houdt's patent and Canada creek, southerly by 
Wood creek, tbe Oneida lake and Onondaga 
1 Oneida] river and westerly by the Oninidaga 
I Oswego] river and liiike Ontario. The islands 
Iving offshore | "in front"] of the patent were to 
r.e included at :i shillings and 1 penny for each 
acre. The boundarv line began at the mouth of 
the Salmon river and ran southeast, g. neraUy 
north of the stream and east of Altmar village; 
thence followed the northern line of Oneida county 
to Fish Creek; thence to Canada creek and Wood 
C^reek; thence along the north shore of Oneida 
lake and river; along the ea.st shore of O.swego 
river and the south shore of Lake Ontario, com- 
prising two-thirds of Oswego county and a thud 
of Oneida county. 



'GBIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIE OF MEXICO. 



29 



Jl!^ 




:,^ fl|^ 


f 


■^ ^^Pl 




..:.'.;>. -f^v^i^^BBsj M 


mKI^ 




Wm 


^^H 


fm^i>' 



iii.nowod PliDli). HKNHV HIMPHKEVS. 

Editor and Proprietor Mexico IiidepetuU'iit. 

The Mexico Independent. — The first issno 
(if flic ]\Iexi("n Iiuli'peiideiif, now in its f'orty-fbiid 
year, iijjpeaied March 21, 1861. Tho.se were 
troublesome times. The country was facing one of 
it« most momentous periods, the great civil war. 
Bunks were breaking everywhere and pulilic cnn- 
tidcnce was greatly imparled. It s-eemed a wild 
scheme to stjrt a paper under such circumstances, 
and many were tlie prophecies of the Independ- 
ent's speedy demise Over-cautiou.s people who 
had .suliscnbed to the Oswego County Democrat 
(the first newspaper puliHshed liere and which 
only existed a year or two), only ventured 2.") 
cents, flaring the lude- 
l^endent would he equally 
sh(u-t lived. But its 
founders, Henry Hum- 
phries aud James M. 
Scarritt, were made of 
sterner stuft" and none of 
these things moved them. 
They began in a very 
modest way in the room 
over what is now H. C. 
Peck's store, with a 
.second-liand outfit (given 
them by their former 
employer in place of the 
wages ihiethem), consist- 
ing of a hand press, a 
(iuernsey power press 
tliat it took two men to 
turn, type, paper, etc. 
The first copy was a four- 
column, eight-page pa- 
per, uncut and unfolded. 
The ju'esent issue is a 
six-column octavo, cut, 
piusted and folded by a 
Bennett Paper Folder. 
Besides the folder the 



I ndependent office is supjilied with other modei'U 
and up-to-date machinepi-. 

Btit what they lacked in materiil they more 
than made up l)y their grit, their tact and enter- 
prise. The word failure was not in their vocabu- 
lary aiid they hustled and jiushed things. They 
were kindly received and heartily supported by 
the townspeople, and from the date of its first 
issue to the present time each week the Indejiend- 
ent has regiilarly appeared on its ))ul)lication day. 
In December. l.S(i5, Mr. Humphries, the present 
editor and proprietor, bought out Mr. HcaiTitt. 
It may not be amiss to state that the foreman, Mr. 
.Tcihn Berry, has tilled that jKisition for nearly 
thirty-four years and Mrs Edwin Baker has been 
employed in the office for twenty-eight years. 
The oilier employes are George I. Peitingill and 
( 'larence \. Hosford. 

Silas Town— The Spy.- On a little island at 
^lexico Point there are two or three graves in one 
of which sleeps all that is mortal ol Silas Town, a 
soldier in the revolutionary war. He was a man 
of ability, with good personal appearance aud an 
uncommonly pleasing address. He was a great 
favorite among the early s-ettlers some of wliose 
rhildrcn now bear his name. Connected with his 
history there was a strong tinge of romance. 

His early life was spent in one of the New Eng- 
land villages where he won the atfeotious of a 
lovely girl to whom he was soon to be married. 
The young lady di' d very suddenly. Town Wius 
overwhelmed aud his pathway was ever after 
darkened. His heart was buried in the same 
grave that closed over her. The war of the revo- 
lution soon after commenced and when the clangor 
of arms was heard at Lexington and Bunker Hill 
lie joined the army and being bright and eagle- 
eyed his .services were mou sought liy the govern- 
ment as a spy and he was sent out on some of the 
most hazardous enterprises. He was connected 




Borrowed Pholi 



IIK.NHV IILMPHKEVS UliSIDENCE. 



30 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



with Arnold's expeditiou to attack (^uoljec ami 
was a hero in many secret missions in Caniula and 
elsewhere. 

When the war was over, being very fond of fish- 
iiif^ and hunting he made a settlement here and 
lioarded for some time with Phinejus Davis, sr., 
within our village limits. Afterwards he went to 
Vera Cruz (Mexico I'oiut) where he lived Tintil 
ISOt! when he died. He was Imried as he desired 
(m the little rock-bound island at the mouth of 
Salmon creek near the waters of thi> lake he loved 
so well. In ISTl a monument was erected over 
his grave on which is the following inscription: 

••Erccti-d .luly 4tli. IsTl, tn rlic incinniy of Silas Town, 
ail olflccr iiiidrV \V:\sh!ii)flon.- Died l.soij. " 

The Rev. li. N. Stratton delivered an oration 
when the monument was erected, recounting the 
many services of Town to the republic. 

The Jerry Rescue. — Mexico had a hand in 
it. A little more than half a century ago ocoun-ed 
an event in Syr:icuse which aroused the city to a 
])itch of frenzy such as it hiul never lie'ore known 
and to which it has since been a stranger. The 
famous ••rescue of .Terry." a poor fugitive .slave, 
from the authorities of the United States govern- 
ment at that time created a tremendous excite- 
ment throughout the nation. He was arrested for 
a test case to see whether or not the obnoxious 
Fugitive Slave Law could be enforced in this 
state. Three or iowr years ago, the actors in those 
exciting scenes having all pa.ssed aw.iy, the correct, 
inside history of the rescue was given. 

After .Terry was taken from the United States 
marshals in Syracuse he was hidden for weeks 
before he reached Canada and until recently it was 
a ])rofound mysteiy with historians as to where 
.Terry was <'oncealcd and how he was curried to 
Canada. The United States government brought 
its whole power to brar on catcliing .Terry after he 
wa.s rescued, and all roads leading from Syracuse 
and all siiipping points to Cauiula were patrolled 
and watcheii, but .Tei'ry got away all the same. 

^Mexico did its full sluiii' in lieliiing him on to 
freedom. While the sherill's and marshals were 
watching all the seaports between Rutlulo and 
Ogdenshurg, poor .Terry was hiding in this village. 

Tn Syracuse on the Sunday following the res- 
cue, as the bi'lls were ringing for evening .service, 
Caleb Davis drove out into the country to collect 
l>eef, as was his custom. He sto)i|>ed at the Syra- 
cuse House for a cigar and drove on without ex- 
citing suspi<'ion. Rut in the bottom of the cart, 
covered with sacks lay .Terry, armed and anxious. 
The team was a span of fleet liorses f\irnislied l>y 
ex-Mayor Jason C. Woodruli', a Hunker Democrat, 
.lames Davis, on horseback and disguised as a 
negio, rode out twelve miles to see and instruct 
the tollgate keepers. .Tason S. Hoyt also joined 
the painty later. 

The "patriot.s" were soon on their track, b\it 
when the p\irsuers reiu'hed the toUgates they had 
great dilliculty in rousing the gatek<>epers, who 
consume<l much time in making change. .\t 
Hrewerton bridge .Ta.son Hoyt was left to drive on 
to Mi^xico alone with .Ti'ny. .\fter this the pur- 
suers gained on them ancl for seven miles they 
raced with the horses at the utmost specil consist- 
ent with .safety until Hoyt's team left them so far 
iH'liind that they gave up the chase. 

Following the route of the •'underground rail- 
road," .Ten'V was taken as far as Mexico the first 



night and left in charge of Starr Clark, Orson 
.\mes and Solomon Peck. The first day and 
night he was kept at the home of Orson .\mes, who 
then resided in the house still standing opposite 
the iicademy and known as the Whyborn i)laee. 
Mr. .\mes. fearful he could not .safely secret .Terry 
longer at his place took him to .\sa Reebe's barn 
very near where the Earl butter dish factory now 
stands. In this barn he was kept for about two 
weeks, Mrs. Reebe providing his rations whicli 
(to avoid suspicion) her son Winsor carried to 
him in a bushel basket when he went to care for 
his team. In the meantime a brother of Mr. 
.\mes, residing in Oswego, made arrangements 
with the caiitani of a boat to take .Terry to Canada. 
WTien the arrangements were completed Winsor 
Reel>e went to Oswego for a load of wheat (he 
then ran the liailroad Mills) and having secreted 
Jerry among the bags and blankets delivered him 
before daylight to the '•agent" in Oswego who 
smuggled him on board the schooner that wa.s 
waiting in the harbor. .Terry in due time reached 
Ivingston in the "land of the free." The Canadian 
climate was too cold for .Terry and he sickened 
and died Oct. S. IS."):?, and was buried in a ceme- 
tery near Ivingston. .Ten^y suH'ered much iluring 
the fearful ordeal but his name will be written on 
the pages of hist<n-v as hnig as human slavery is 
remembered. 

Underground Railway at Mexico. — Mexi- 
co, during the days of slavery, was one of the 
largest stations of the "underground railway" for 
running off fugitive slaves. In those days it was 
both unpopular and dangerous to tight slavery but 
^lexico was nevertheless the headquarters of anti- 
slavery sentiment in the county. It was a hotbed 
of abolitionism. Here wa.s located one of the 
lodges of that sfcret organization known a-s the 
.\nti-Man-Hunting Ijeague, and that bokl and fear- 
less anti-slavery champion, .\sa S. Wing, was its 
leadiug spirit. ^faiiy were the fugitives who 
were aided here by the ••order" anil pius.seil on 
over the ^Mexico branch of the "underground rail- 
road to Canada and freedom. 

Business Houses Prior to 1870. — William 
S. Fitch, first store. 

Nathaniel Rntler, first jeweler. 

Levi F. Warner, first druggist; his successors 
were Warner & Elliott, WiU'ner & Channeey Sims_ 
( teorge S. Thrall A- Co. and Rutler it Higgins. 

Moses P. Hatch, Pet<'r (Chandler, Stitt .V Rutler, 
.1. S. C!Laiidler, Henry Webb, .T. ^I. Harrows, 
S. H. \- B. S. Stone, I. T. Miner A- Co., Stitt .V 
Howen, Stitt \- (ioodwin, general stores; (iregory 
,V ^feiriam, shoe store; Edwin I,. Huntington, 
drugs; Starr Clark, general store; Peck A- Conklin, 
dry goods; Railey .V .\yres, clothing; W. H. A: E. 
Rulison. drugs; Hainl ,V (iriHitli, grocers; Clinton 
A Eaton, general merchandi.se; .Xmi's, Alexander 
A' Co., .shoes; Albm Meyer, tailor; .lames Whit- 
taker, gi'ueral store; .bimes Land), William O. 
.Tohnson, gid<'eries;Silas May, WhilMey A Forsyth, 
(ioodwin A Hinckley, general stores; Taylor .V 
Kulison, druggists. 

Stone A Tiiller, hardware; John Bennett, Wil- 
liam Cooper, tailoi-s; Luther S. Conklin, I'lam 
.Marsh; land agents. 

Driggs A- Parkhur.st, (iillispie. Holmes A Co., 



"GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVEXIK OF IMEXICO. 



31 



general stores; J. F. & D. D. Becker, merchandise: 
G. P. Plank & Son, Goit i: Everts, dry goods; 
Goit & Thayer, general store; Taylor & Meyer, 
merchant tailors; Peck & Conklin, merchandise; 
S. W. Plank, dry goods; Huntington & Kiekard, 
drugs and jewelry: Stone, Roliinsou it Co., dry 
goods; (ioit it Richardson, groceries; Pierce fr 
Brown, groceries; L. H. Sayles, hardware: A. W. 
Waters, undertaking; Ball & Mond, merchant 
tailors; E. J. Parmlee, hooks, succeeded by Cham- 
lierlain A: Wallace; W. O. \' C!harles C. Johnson, 
groceries; Jesse H. Holmes, clothing store, sni'- 
ceeded by B. G. Eat<m it T. G. Brown; 0. H. 
Clinton, groceries: Brooks A: Huotington, drugs; 
J. R. Norton, dry goods; Geo. W. Stone, dry 
goods; Cobb it Woodruti', groceries; L. G. Bid- 
lard, groceries; L. L. Virgil, hardware; C. P. 
Whipple, furniture: George (i. Tnbbs, R. L. 
Alired, jeweh-y; J. 1). Hartson, clothing; C. F. 
Tidier, groceries; May bee it Burgess, groceries: 
Eldad Smith, hardware: Holland Wilder, black- 
smith; Sterling Newell, lumber: John McMaun, 
butcher. Francis Villard, carpenter; Lawrence 
Stevens, carpenter; William Pentield, blacksmith: 
Rrainard Selby, blacksmith : J. R. Drake, produce ; 
l!ol)ert Gibbs, .shoe store; Bailey it Goodwin, 
clothing; Ames it Bennett, shoe store; Becker 
Brothers, dry goods; Hoose it I..(iomis, gi-oceries. 

The Early Manufacturers include W. S. 
Fitch, Simon Taller and Peter I'ratt, distilleries; 
Starkweather and E. Burns, hat manufactui-ers: 
John Bennett, taOor; Mr. Sherman, scythe fac- 
tory; Asa Putnam, maker of axes and scythes; 
A. it W. Penfteld, carriage works; Bezaleel Thayer, 
manufacturer of woolen cloth; Asa Beebe, iron 
foundry and maker of plows who was succeeeded 
by James Tuller & S. T. Beebe; Or.son Ames, 
Gregory it Merriam, Jabin Wood, tanneries; 
John Morton. Matthias Whitney, Dennis Peck, 
Coo))er it Huntington, Brooks it Ridei', Wm. Goit, 
David Goit, Almerou Thomas and Peter Sand- 
hovel, Hour manufacturers; David (ioit, oil mill; 
A. C. Erskiue. sash and liiind factory; Bews it 
Walton, iron foundary; Simon Leroy, Wairen 
Allen and W. B. Lord, cabinet makers; S. N. 
(iustin, who made animal pokes and pails; Cyrus 
Turney, wagon maker; S. H. it B. S. Stone, 
Phineas Davis ami J. M. Barrows, manufacturers 
of potash. 

Early Lawyers Prior to 1854. — A. M. Bixby 
was first attorney in ^lexico village: M. Petitt; 
Grville Robinson, member of Congress in 1842; 
Veeder (Jreeu: Levi Downing; Orla H. Whitney, 
county judge: Cynis Whitney, county judge; 
Luke D. Smith, member of assembly; John B. 
Higgins, district attorney; W^m. Tullar; Timothy 
W. Skinner, surrogate, only one of that period 
now living in the village: George G. French, dist- 
rict attorney; Edwin Allen, afterwai'ds mayor of 
Oswego; Albert G. Cole; S.amuel T. Par.sons. 

Physicians Prior to 1850. — Doctor Tenant 
■was the pioneer physician here. Others were 
Elisha Moore: A. B. Palmer; E. Palmer ; Frederick 
Smith; Sardius Brewster; Benjamin E. Bowen, 
once member of assembly: Alexander Wlialey; 
Levi F. Warner; Abiathar (Jardmer; Gilson A. 
Dayton, appointed auditor of state canal depart- 
ment; M. Bradliurv; Harriet Rundell; Wm. Run- 
dell; Clark D. Snell; A. Buell: Dr. Kendall. 



Fires in Mexico — prior to 1806 — [Taken from 
the list compiled by George (ioodwin.] 

February 1801, Calvin Tiffany's log house (see 
First Fire. 

1807, Richard Gafi'ord dwelling, (see Fii-stFire). 

1809, John Ames dwelHng. 

1821, David Aldrich residence (tenant). 

1S23, Distillery owned by Simon Tuller and 
Lucius Webb; at night. 

1824, Two dwellings. Mr. Fox moving from 
one found the place he was going to in flames. 
Without unloading his goods he returned and 
found the other house burning. He then left the 
country. 

1S2.J, Dry house connecteil with B. Thayer's 
woolen factory; loss .$400; not insured. 

July, 184:^, Ashery owned bv P. Chandler and 
leased by S. H. it B. S. Stone.' Loss .fiOO. 

1844, Tannery owned and occupied by O. Ames. 
Supposed incendiary. Loss .f."),00(). 

184."), Trip hammer shoj) owned by Wing & 
Densmore aad occupied bv(i. Maynard; at night. 
Loss .'SCJOO. 

184.0 or '(), Blacksmith shop owned by A. Beebe 
and leased by G. Maynai-d. LossfiiOO". 

Aug. 1."), 184ti, Two houses owned bv J. B. 
Snifter; midday. Loss .$900. 

1847, Dwelling, known as Maycomber hou.se, 
and used as s'nall pox hospital. Unoccujjied. 

Nov. 12, 18.")0, Methodist church and sheds; two 
.stores, one owned by J. A. Fort and the other V)y 
A. Lawrence; L. Downiug's li.arn. The fire -was 
started by a girl 14 years old. She was sent to 
Pulaski jail and tried to fire that. Loss $5,000; 
barn insured for $100. 

1851, Dwelling owned l)y Warner Mitchell on 
Sherman hill; caught from chimney ; loss l$500. 
Dwelling owned by Soloman Mathew-s; at night; 
chimney: loss $500: insured $175. 

Nov. 27, 18.52, ^lexico Hotel (brick) with small 
tenements and a dwelling owned by L. D, Smith. 
Loss .$4,000; insurance .$1,200. 

March 25, 1854, Whitney block (frame), old red 
store, Kinne's clothing store and Dowumg's law 
office; night, .\mong the losers were Whitney it 
For.syth, K. H. Kinne, S. Doolittle and L. Down- 
Lug; caught in a shoe shop. Loss $7,000, insur- 
ance $8,000. 

1854, Stave mill owned by A. Curtiss, H. t!ur- 
tiss and S. Hosmer; accidental; lo.ss $900 

Aug. 2(5, 1854, Three stores on the site of Webb 
block. Three story building owned by Jiidge 
Whitney, brick store owned by Henry Webb and 
drag .store of W. H. and E. Rulison. Losers be- 
sides the above were Whitney it Skinner, S. Ken- 
nedy, Odd Fellows, Peck & Conklin, Wm. Webb, 
J. G. Allen, J. Blakeslee. Loss $15,000; insur- 
ance .$7,500; origin unknown. 

Nov. 24, 1857, Blacksmith shop owned by L. D. 
Smith and occupied by C. Johnson; wagon shoj) 
owned by Haven & Smith. Loss $1,000. 

March 14, 1857, Dwelling owned by Mis. 
Rebecca Kdlam. Loss $800. 

Feb. 14, ]8(;0, Whitne.T block (brick) composed 
of six stores. Site of former fire. Among the 
losers were K. H. Kinne, O. C. Whitney, Ames & 
Bennett, R. (iibbs, Bailey it Goodwin, Brooks & 
Rider, Whitney it Skinner, J. N. F. Hall, Mrs. 
Bolt, H. Everts, Mr. Daniels, C. 1). Snell. Incen- 
diary. Lo.ss .$20,000; in.siu-ance about .$9,000. 

March 10, 18(51, Store of A. Thomas. First 
fire attended by the fire company with an engine. 
Occurred ;{ a. m. Loss $7,000; insurance $5,000. 

March 14, 18i52, Town hall block composed of 



32 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



five wooden buililings. Stone \- Fuller, S. Doo- 
little, Bi-iulbni-y \- Smith, O. H. Whitney estate, 
J. N. F. Hall, R. Howard, L. 1). Smith, M. W. 
Babcock, Misses Cliubbs losers. Loss $'J,000; 
insurance $r),000. Accidental. 

March SC), 1803. Saw mill of David Rider. Loss 

$500. 

Jan. 9, 18(>^, Saw mill owned by Mr. Borland. 
Loss 8(100. „. ^ , , , 

July -l-'. 1864, The big fire (See Fire of hi on 
another paf,'e). ,,-,,■ 

June 2!l. 18(;il. Empire Hotel block, mehlding 
buildings attuc-lK'd to the hotel and J. A. Riekard's 
barn J. -A.. Rickard, W. O. Johnson, Bard k 
(Jrimth, T. G. I'iick(r. T. A. Skinn.r, Good 
Templars, (i. Swanson, W. Cooper, T. B. Ely, 
J 1' Plank, Dr. Baker, (i. A. Castle, Lawson & 
Co , O. L. Kuue, T. W. Skinner, J. B. Taylor 
and others were losers. Loss $24,000; insurance 
$14,000. 

First Fire in Mexico village was the liurning of 
the cabin of Calvin Tiffany in February 1801. 
Tlie structure built of logs stood on the Scriba 
road, a spot now in the corporation limits of 
Mexico village a half a mile northeast of the rail- 
road depot and was first occupied by Nathaniel 
Rood the first white s tthn- in Mexico who took 
jwissession with Jonathan Parkhurst in 1798. The 
latter soon after settled south of Colosse. In 
February 179:t Calvin Titliny and Phiiieis D.ivis 
rented tlie house. The latter shortly after liuilt a 
house for liimself, leaving the Tiffany family in 
ihc old house where they were living when it, was 
burned. It was in this house that Truman Rood 
was born— the first birth in town— and where 
Rood's widow lived after marrying Richard (Jaf- 
f(U-d— the first wedding in Mexico. In 1807 the 
Richard Gafford residen e standing on the s nie 
ground was linrned. 

The Cradle of Societies was the name popii 
larly given tn Sliuabel .Alfred's residence and barn 
which stood in the west end of the vilhige on Main 
street. The residence was erected in 181)7 being 
the first frame building in the village. It is still 
standing as a wing to a dwelling which was Imilt 
later. It was here the M:us(mic fraternity was 
organized in 1808. The barn which stood m tlie 
rear of the house suinilied Harriet I'^aston with a 
school ro(mi in 1811. On .Vug. 20, ISIO, a few 
ladies met in this barn with Sinum Waterman 
and took ste]is for the organization of a Presby- 
terian church. Services were conducted there bv 
the Kevs. Israel Brainaid, Oliver Leavitt and M. 
Dunla)) until :\Iay LSI I wIkmi a second meeting of 
citizens was held* which resulted in the organiza- 
tion of till' First (iongregational church of Mexico. 

The Soldiers' Monument Association was 

organized June 20, 1^77, witli L. II. ('(Uiklin, 
l)reRidfcnt; 0. L. Webb, secretary; H. C. Peck, 
treasurer; J. M. Hood, E. Ij. Huntington, I.ia 
[■'ayette .Vltred, Phineas Davis, Asa I-. Sampson 
and Lewis Miller executive committee. In 188S 
the town voteil S'-,"00 and the momiment at a cost 
of $2,0H9.:M was erected the following year, being 
dedicated July 4, 18H9. It is a granite shaft :i4 
iVel high, standing in the Mexico village cemetery. 



Wolves became so plenty in the early days of 
Oswego settlements that the town board of Mexico 
on March 0, 1804, voteil SIO j.er each wolf killed 
the ensuing year. In LSI 2 the nuisance wiis of 
such character that the town board increased the 
bounty t<i .$30 for each head. The following year 
Daniel Scnithard realized .S1,.">00 in bounties for 
wolf scalps which he had taken. 

Prattham, or Prattville, two miles east of 
Mexico, was named after Judge Pratt who built a 
store, .saw mill and distillery there and engaged in 
mercantile trade with Elias Brewster. Pratt * 
Brewster were also interestecl in a woolen mill 
with Dr. Sardius Brewster. Joel Savage con- 
ducted the tavern. Edward Smith a tannery and 
harness shop, Simon Leroy a cabinet shop and 
Ge(n-ge Finney a blacksmith shop. 

Wellwood (South Mexico) was settled by 
James WeUwood in 1838. It is only within the 
jiast few years, when the post ottice was started 
that it was named Wellwood. The postnnusters 
here were :Mahlon Remington, Ellsworth Rem- 
ington. Mrs. Emma Preston and William Harris. 
The South Mexico :\Iethodi-;t church was organ- 
ized March 1, 1819. with 120 members and they 
built and dedicated their church in March, 1H.')1. 
The early pastors were Charles Northrup. .\nsiin 
Tuller, Harris King.sley and J. C. Brown. 

Mexico in 1806.— The town of Mexico border- 
ing the lake on the east as well as the south, as 
it did in 1800 is described Ity a wiiter in that year 
as follow.s:— "At the end of the lake there are 
large marshes, on which vegetation is very rapid. 
Some of 1 his is planted with corn and produces 
abundantlv; but in conse(iuence of there Uung so 
much grass and other i)roducti(Uis which cannot 
lie gathered, the jieople are in the fall of the year 
liable to a distressing fever— much more malignant 
and dangerous than the common fever and ague. 
In the lake there are large winrows of soud. five 
miles in length, on which there stands, here and 
there a i>ine, and some other small trees which 
make the ajipearance from the land very ])iclur- 
esque. This town began t > settle in '98, is c.illed 
Mexico or Elli.sburgh; in the town of Mexico— nine 
miles square— about 30 families is ivpidly settle- 
iug. " 

Nuts and Fruits.— Beechnuts and chestnuts 
were found in Oswego county in great abundance 
when the first settlers came here. There were 
als(^ large quantities of fruit, many siiecies of 
which are now highly cultivated. Along the 
streams berries grew in great abundance. As 
earlv as 1015 Chaniplain found a great wood of 
beechnuts which he called chestnuts and which 
appears as one of the many localities of interest 
he marked on his maj.. Slippery elm bark was 
idso gathered by the i.ioneers and there are in- 
stances when famishing families fed on it. Butter- 
nut bark was hoard. 'd for the win'er and steeped, 
the liquor being used for a s))ring tonic. 

In 1.S02 Rev. John Taylor, "a missionary," in 
this section dei'lared that he considered the fact 
that he had found here ■■<-urrauts, black and red, 
angelica, plantain. English i>arsely, high balin.s 
and peppermint," evidences that this country had 

once been occnpicil by "an improved people." 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



33 




lioiTowiil I'liiitcis. AMES FAMILY- FIVE GENEKATK INS. 

Miner\'a Peck Amt-s; EmeliiiL' Ames Whitiu'.v, Iht dau^lik-r 
KiU*y <). Whitney, si'anilson; Mrs. Laura .1. Treadwell. irrrat 
^randdailjiiitcr; Gerrie L. TreadwcII, great-j^rcat-wraiidsoii 
Frank E. Whitney, j^reat-j^randdaiif^ltter. 

The Ames Family. — On the north side and 
nearly at the end of West Main street stands the 
stone house of historic interest, whose jjresent 
oceujjants are Mrs. George Cole and her daughter 
Kate Boylan. This li<nise was buOt in 18o.5 and has 
a jirimitive air of simplicity. In 1804 on this 
same plot of ground midst foi-ests, located Mr. 
and Mrs. Leonard Ames with four little children, 
who came from Mud Lake, Delaware Co., driving 
an ox tea-n and "blazing" their way. Thoe they 
made a clearing and built them a log house where 
they raised eleven childi-en, whom the mother, 
singing the lullaby, rocked in sap troughs. 
The late Leonard Ames, of the 
Ames Iron Works was one of 
them. This story is told of one of 
the daughters, Emeline Ames, 
afterwards Mrs. Whitney, grand- 
iiiotlier of Miss Frank Whitney of 
this village. One afteinoon, hav- 
itig ]) lid a little visit to her old 
hotiie. she started out to her own 
log cabin liuilt on the site of 
ground which is now known as the 
tiall farm. On crosstug the little 
br ok she saw a fine salmon. She 
reached out, caught the fish in her 
hand tmd carried it home in her 
aiiron. It weighed 20 pounds. 
Mr. Leonard Ames liuOt the stone 
house as it stands to-day. There 
in its rooms were gathered a few 
choice s-jiirits which made up Ihe 
first Methodist quarterly meeting 
held in this part of the country. 
The only remaining member of 
this household — the last of tho.se 
eleven children — is Mrs. Heniy 
Ames, who resides at Los Angeles, 
Cal. Mr. A. A. Howlett, of Syra- 
cnse, married the youngest 



daughter of the Ames's. In this stone house 
was V)oru Mr. Leona'd Ames Whitney of 
this village, the first great gi-andchild of 
Leonard Ames, of whom Mr. Alpheus 
Herbert purchased the place. It then 
[lassed into the hamls of Charles Paddock 
and next to Mr. Samuel Smitli, whose 
daughter is its present occupant. 

John Burrows, for many years a prom- 
inent resident of Mexico, an active, earnest 
member of the Presbyterian church, and 
a kind father, was one of the many distin- 
guished men who have represented this vil- 
lage in many i^arts of the world. For fifty- 
two years his life was sjient at sea, begin- 
ning when ten years of age with a trading 
vessel and sixteen years later entering the 
service of his country which continued for 
thirty-six years during which he served 
faithfully in naval ojjerations during the 
Mexican and the civil wars. His residence 
in Mexico began in the fall of 18.j4 and con- 
tinued to the time of his death, which oc- 
curred .Tune 30, 1900, except during the 
comparatively biief interims when shore 
duty made it desirable to temporarily move 
his family where he could lie at home. 
On June 7, 1855, the year following his 
arrival in Mexico he joined the Presbyterian 
church and was always thereafter a conscientious 
worker and Hberal contriljuter in the (^ause of 
religion and benevolence. Mr. Burrows was born 
in Middletown, Ct., Jan. 30, 1819. When he was 
three months old his jiarents moved to the 
Bidiamas, locating on one of the salt islands of 
that gi'oup near Nassau, where his father was em- 
jiloyed in making salt. Mr. Burrows frequently 
remarked that he begun his sea life at thi-ee 
months of age. He was ten years old when he 
induced the captain of a vessel to take him to sea. 
His movements for the'^next few years were those 
of a sea-faring life. At the age of 26 years, Aug. 




Ik trowed Photos. .KIHX ItUKROWS. 

ELIZA M( KEE lUHltoWS. SARAH ALLF.N BURROWS. 



34 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



7, 1845, he enlisted as a private in the United 
States navy and was assigned to duty during the 
Mexican war on the frigate "Congress,"' under 
Commodore Hol)ert F. Stockton. Asarewaul for 
excellent service and worthy seamanshiji. Com- 
mandant John J). Sloat of the ( iosport navy yard, 
on Fel). 10, 1S4II, made him acting Miuster's mate. 
On Nov. 1"), 18.j(l, President Millard Fillmore 
signe<l his commission of Boatswain which was 
made to begin on l)ec. 4, 1849, his first assignment 
being to the U. S. slooi) of war "(icrmantown." 
This position he held in various ships until the 
time of his retirement from active service. ( >n 



Miss Addie E. and Miss Sarah L. Burrows. He 
ha.s one sister living in the Bahamas. 

Mr. BniTows" remarkjible service in the United 
States navy took him to all jiarts of the world and 
attached him to many of the well known vessels 
of war whose names are houi-ehold words, .\moug 
the number were the U. ^>. S. .\laska, ihe Ticon- 
deroga, the U. S. S. Frigate San .lacinto and the 
U. S. S. Wyoming. At the time of the outbreak 
of the war in 18()1, he was assigned to duty on the 
U. S. S. slooj) of war Hartford and during the 
niiLuy trying campaigns of that ves.sel. the Wachu- 
setts to which he was transferi'ed in 18(i2 and the 




Dtinwlck, I'tiotd. 



THK MEXICO CKMKTKUV. 



Feb. 2, 1851, he was married to ^liss Eliza McKre 
of Brooklyn and three years later, in the fall of 
18.')4, they moved to tins village, coming here 
through the friendsbi]) of T. t'. Herbert, a saU- 
inaker, who was a boon companion of Mr. Bur- 
rows. Here Mrs. Burrows died .Tan. 17, 1881. 
On Sei)t. (i, 1882, Mr. Barrows marriid .Miss Sarah 
F. .Vllen wlio died Dec. 18, 18:15. more than six 
years prior to the time of liisdeatli. Mr. Burrows 
had five chiUlren, all by his first wife, two of 
whom are now living in the village of Mexico, 



U. S. Steamer Wyoming to which he was attached 
in 18(15, performed the duties of boatswain witli 
gallautr,v. In 181)8 being assigned to shore dut,y 
in the Hrookl^ n navy ya'd he moved his family to 
that cit,y and they resided there two and a half 
years. In 1874 he was directed to rig imt Old 
Ironsides for the receiving ship Constitution at 
League Island navy yard an<l iliiring the three 
,vears following being on duty theie l.c and his 
family resided in Philadelphia. Then, in 1878, 
he was attjiched to the Alaska in service on the 



"GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIB OF MEXICO. 



35 




lioirowed Pliotn. 

GEORGE P. .KtHNSDN, M. D. 

Piieific station, and in August, 1S79. returned 
Lome on waitiuK orders until Jan. 30, 1881, when 
)ie was placed on the retired list, thereafter draw- 
ing longevitv pay, granted in 1887, uutil his death 
and spending the lialance of his days at his home 
in tli.s village. 

George P. Johnson, M. D., son of Noah and 
Margaret E. (Miller) Jt)huson, grandson of James 
Johnson, was born Aug. 9, 18-14, at Palermo, N. Y. 
He was educated at Falley Seminary, Fulton, 
N. Y., and Oswego City High School, Oswego, 
N. Y., and in 18(3-4 took uj) the study of medicine 
under the direction of his brother. Dr. Stephen 
P. Johnson, of Oswego, N. Y. ; attended lectures 
at Albany Medical College and was graduated 
from there Dec. 24, 18(57. On Dec. 2li tollowiug. 
Dr. Johnson entered ujion the jn-actice of medi- 
cine at ( )swego with his 
brother, remaining until 
Dec. Hi, lHo8, when be 
removed to Mexico, N.Y., 
where he has continued 
his jirofessional woik 
since. He was U. S. 
Pension Examining Sur- 
geon from Nov., 18G9, to 
Jan ,188:!, physician and 
surgeon 1 o OswegoC'ouuty 
Insane .\sylum and Poor 
House from Jan. 1, 1S73, 
to Jan. 1, 1891, he:.lth 
physician of Mexico, X. 
Y.," from 1.S72 to 1879 
and j)ostmasler of Mexico 
Village from Feb. -I'K 
1885, to April 7, 1887. 

Dr. Johuso I is a mem- 
ber of Os\\ego County 
Medical Society, was 
vice presiileni in 1882 and 
president in 188:3, mem- 
ber of \.Y. State Medical 



Society, is a Chapter Mason and a member of the 
First Presliyterian church of Mexico, N. Y. He 
is greatly interested in infant education and has 
read papers on that subject liefore the County 
Medical Society. He has examined over six thou- 
sand persons for life insurance for the different 
leading insurance com|)anies. On June 5, 188;i, 
he married Miss Sarah A. Webb of Mexico, N. Y. 
who died Sept. ID, 1893 leaving one child, Fannie 
W. Johnson, born Dec. (i, 1884. He married 
second on Jan. 25, 1898, :Miss Ella F. Uoodell 
eldest daufihter of Rev. Win. S. (ioodell. 

Mexico Village Cemetery was originally 
0]ieiied in 1S:iS, and the first to be placed in its 
sacred dust were the remains f)f Luther S. Conk 
lin in September. 1S:38. The first trustees were 
John Bennett, James S. Chandler and Calvin 
(ioodwin. In 18r)9 additional land was purcha.sed 
on the west side by D W. C. Peck and Oliver C. 
Whitney as executors of (3rla H.Whitney, deceased, 
which is now known as the "Whitney Plot." 
This plot is still jirivate ground never having 
jiassed into the hands of the trustees of the ceme- 
tery. Ill 18(11 additional land was ])nreliased by 
Liithiir H, Conklin and annexed to the cemetery 
and is known as the "Conklin" addition. In 1872 
the cemetery was much enlarged and impiovedby 
land purchased by the village of Henry L. Cole. 
The pui-chase price was $1(31)1). This new part 
was finelv laid out in burial plots and avenues bv 
D. W. C. Peck, Oliver C. Whitney, L. H. Conk- 
lin, Wm J. Menter, C. F. Tullar and B. S. Stone 
who were the trustees of the cemetery at that time. 

None worked with more enthusiasm, with more 
realiza'ion of the artistic possibilities of this last 
addition, or gave it more thought thiui did Mr. 
Peck. He was a recognized leader and to his 
tireless enei-gy much of its beauty is due. Mr. 
James B. Driggs also has done much to beautify 
this cemetery. 

In 1887 the receiving vault was erected under 
the supervision of B. S. Stone, E. L. Huntington, 
G. H. Goodwin and J. B. Driggs who were the 
trustees of the cemetery at that time and are now. 
It is of interest in this connection to state that 
Mr. George H. Goodwin who has been a Irustee 
for twenty-five years has made an excellent record 
for ujirightness, thoroughness and courte-iy. 




Uunwirk. t-tintc 



.\. \v. woDDnri'i't; hi; -ill) EN IK 



:3(i 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Uin-iowcii rin>t(). 

UEV. 



itii>\vi:i,i.. 



The First Baptist Church of Mexico was or. 
ganized as the Haptist flinivb of Mexicnville, .Tan. 
24, 1832, by Rev. Jonathan Goodwin, who came 
to this town from Connecticut in 1829. Preach- 
ing in this vicinity for three years, his hibors crys- 
tjilized in the organization of this church. Hi.s 
rijje age, experience, wisdom and spiritual endow- 
ment fitted him for ellective service. Born at 
Lebanon Ct., in the year of our nation's birth, 
]77(), called of Ood, pastor of the Baptist church 
at Mansfield, Ct., twenty su'cessive years, hewa.s 
the man for the work. iServing the infant church 
as pastor three years, he returned to lal lor in his nat- 
ive state. Re-visiting Mexico in '50, he was taken 
ill and died at fourscour. He was buried in the 
primitive cemetery. He was the noble grand- 
father of our honored townsman, (ieorge H. (ioo<l- 
win. The church records were burned in 18(i4, 
but the known constituent meml)ers were Rev. 
.Jonathan Goodwin, his son Calvin Goodwin, 
Deacon Reuben Smith and wif(>, ('alvin'?Titlany 
and Mrs. Robinson. The first annual meeting of 
the Oswfgo l?aptist associiition was held with this 
church, which re])ortcd .""x; members. witlijUev. .1. 
tJoodwin, R. Smith, M. 
Clark and C. Titi'any, del- 
egates. In 18:!."). the Bap- 
tist church in Northwest 
Mexico united with this 
and adopted the present 
name. There were 11.5 
members, with Rev. S. 
Davison, pastor. Inl83(), 
Rev. Wm. Prary was 
pastor hero and at New 
Haveu. In 18;?7 Rev. 
Nelson (^amp was called. 
Li 1K:)H the first bajitism 
occurred. The nuMd)er 
was !i:{. hi 183!) Rev. ^. 
I'omerov as pastor; 4 
baptiztA; the church 
numbered 8!), abd the 
first exclusion occurred. 
The as.sociatiim again met 
here. From 183!) to '4.". 
data are lacking. Dunwick, I'lioto. 



In 1845 Rev. David McFarland became pastor 
and found 112 mendiers. He labored four years, 
bai)tized 18 and left 110. Rev. Nelson Fergm-on 
followed two years, baptized 2 and left 83. Rev. 
T. Theall served nearly a year. From 18.")3 to 'H') 
they had supplies, triids and discouragements. 
Rev. Chancellor Hartshorn preached one yearand 
left 7ii. Destitute one year. In 18r)7 Rev. .lud- 
Bon Davis came su]i|ilyiijg also Colosse. He found 
73 members. He gave up Colosse the second 
year. Things brightened. During his i)astorate 
of four vears and nine months, 32 were baptized. 
In bSiilthey numbered 114. In ]8li2 Rev. S. S. 
Utter, of ble-sed memory came. .\ year of goiUy 
toil, and five were baptized. He left 100. Rev. 
George R. Pierce followed, was ordained, and 
preached earnestly a year and a half. In .July, 
18()j, Rev. Lawson Muzzy, wise and beloved, be- 
came pastor, leading the chiu'ch in goodly paths 
for nine years — the longest jiastorate in the 
church's history. His memory is fragrant. The 
cinuch edifice wa,s rebuilt of l)rick in 1872, and 
and re-dedicated Jan 12, 1873, Rev, 1. Butterfield 
preaching the sermon. Rev. E. B. Hut<'hins was 
called, ordained and labored two years. Rev. J. 
H. IMcGaheu had a four years' pa:,torate of bless- 
ing and 53 were added to the church. Rev. C. 
M. Booth followed until :March, 1884. with 18 ad- 
ditions. Rev. G. W, Barnes cime in M.irch, 1,885, 
and left in February, 1889. Additions, 29. Rev. 
(i. H. Button followed for (me year. Then the 
church was pastorless until May, 1891, when Rev. 
S. M. Wheeler was pastor until February, 1892. 
Elder Button labored four weeks evangel istically 
and 18 were ba])tized. The veteran. Rev. E. F. 
Elaine, supplied them two years and three months 
and the savor of his name lingers sweet on the 
field. Rev. .1. M. Berry was the next pastor for 
two years. Rev. H. Wayne Wolcott came in 
December, 189(1, laboring until .Tune, 1900. .\ 
fine chapel was built, roll call helil, and a imrson- 
.sonage secured. Rev. (ieorge A. Fairbank be- 
came pastor July 1, 1900, was ordained Oct. 30, 
and labored efficiently with divine blessing. With 
his busy wife he lives in the hearts of the peo|ile. 
The preM'nt i)astor. Rev. S. S. Bidwell, came -Tan. 
1, 1903. The outlook is good skyward, and .some- 
what cheering to human vision. The present 
membershi]) is 102. Deiu'ons S. C. (ireeii, E. L. 




THK Il.M'TIST ( miiCH. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



37 




llcilic.wicl I'llcitU. 

Kl.lZAIiK'lll I). FEUKIIS. 

Joues iuul H. F. Kenyon; trustees, S. C. Greon, 
Daniel Wyant, Herbert Adams, Fred Hamilton, 
E. W. Jones and Charles Loomis. 

Our oldest, best beloved sister, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Douglass Ferris, whose likeness appears, fell 
asleej) Sept. 24, 1902. She was of Conned icut 
descent, born in Westmoreland, N. Y., Aug. 23, 
1803, daughter of a godly Baptist deacon and a 
devoted and gifted mother, converted at 14, bap 
Hzed in Whitesboro, N. Y., gifted and educated, 
a successful teacher, in maiden years the affianced 
of the sainted hero missionary, Rev. Eugenio Kin- 
eaid, but her friends shrank from the jiartiu.^ »nd 
she remained single until 1812, when she married 
Mr. E. M. Ferris. They soon moved to Mexico 
where they ended theu- days— he in 1883, she as 
above, in her one hundredth year. 

The Wesleyan Methodist Church society 
of rrattham was first organized in ISIS. The 
church building was erected in 1863, the dedica- 
tion taking jilace on Dec. 11 of that year. 
Those who preached to this society were Rev. 
David R. Dixon, 1818-'33; William B. Stowe, 
1833-'36; John L. Marvin, 1840-43; Ezra Scoville, 
1843-'53; Ralph Robinson, 1853-'.57. Then came 
a gap of a few years which resulted in the new 
society and a good church building, in whit'h Rev. 
A. P. Burgess was the first pastor, preaching in 
1863. Then followed L. N. Stratton, 1865-70; 
A. P. Dempsey, 1871; Rev. G. L. Payne, 1872-'5; 
Rev. E. Barnets, 1876. 

The First Birth in the town of Mexico was 
that of Truniiin, the .son of Nathaniel Rood, Aug. 
10, 1708, in the old Rood house then located in 
the present boundary of the village of Mexico. 
Rood first came to Mexico that same year and 
built a house at Vera Cruz. The same fall about 
the time of the birth of his son he was lost with a 
party on the lake. His widow married Richard 
Gaflford. 



Harriet Rundell, whoso popularify in Mexico 
during lier long useful life prompted everybody 
to call her "Auntie", was a woman of more than 
ordinary endowments. For forty yeais she jirac- 
ticed medicine driving lier own hor.se all through 
the country herealiouts in all linds of weatlier. 
She never attended a medical school but "))icked 
uj)" what knowledge she possessed and she was 
(|uite successful. Her husband. W. W. Rundell 
was a Methodist clergyman who finally practiced 
medicine. Harriet was liberal to the poor and 
]ii)]iular with everybody — the village fnvorite. 
She was by far the most representative, best known 
and nuist active of Mexico women in all social and 
riiurch matters. Very earnest in her su|i|iort of 
the Methodist church she at the time of her death 
left her large, handsome house to the society for 
the parsonage. 

Earliest Mills.- In 1801 John Morton i)ul up 
a log house m Mexico. Three years later he 
erected a saw mill which Wiis also condiined with 
a mill for grinding feed and the pioneers brought 
corn on tieir backs from miles su-ound to be 
ground here. Matthias Whitney & Son bought 
the mill in 1811 and put in two run of stone, in 
1827 it passed into the hands of Dennis Peck who 
sold t)ut to Wm. Goit and he in turn to David 
Goit. Almeron Thomas in 1864 was followed by 
his son Amos C. Thomas, who was succeeded by 
his brother Frederick A. 'i homas. This mUl was 
torn down within the past two or three years. 
The Osln)rne mill stands on the site of this old 
liuilding. Leonard Ames succeeded Morton in 
running the saw mill. 

The First Store. -In the mercantile line, the 
first store in Mexico, aside from Scriba'swas kept 
by William S. Fitch, near the Calvin Tiffany (now 
C. (j. Dewey) place. About the clo.se of the war of 
1812 he removed his business to Mexico village, 
his store l>eing where Simons' liilliard saloon now 
stands. The building he had before occupied was 
al)0ut thnt time removed to the village and is now 
a part of the tirst house north of Osborn's Toronto 
Mills. 




Itorrowcfi Photo, 



"ATNTIE" RT'NDALL. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Military Tract.— Facts of interest with eom- 
pl.-tciiil'oimitti.>ncoiK-eniiiig these liistorioal lands: 

The leKislatiue by tlic act of Julv 'i.'), 17H'2, cre- 
ated the ()1.\ Mihtary Traet as it was called. It 
contained 1,800,000 acres and included the pres- 
ent counties of Onondaga, Cortland, Cayuga, 
Tomi.kins and Seneca (except a strip across the 
southern end of Cortland county, west from the 
Tioufihnioga river, about a mile and a half wide), 
and all of Wavue couutv east of Great Sodus Bay 
and OswvKO county west of the O.swego river. 

In tins tract there were is townships, called 
■•Military towns" to distinguish them from the 
towns afterwards created in erecthig the counties 
enclosing them. In ITSf, the legislature created a 
new military tract of TtiS.OOl) acres in the cMinties 
of Clinton, "Franklin and Essex which was laid 
out in twelve towns, bringing the total number 
up to tiO. Each was laid out as nearly square a.s 
practical, averaging about It- miles square and 
containing each 100 lots of (iOO acres to the lot. or 
a total of tiO.OOO acres. The towns were number- 
ed and given classical names all of which have 
Iwen retained (as far as the supply wtuxld gol in 
the re-constituted towns. Except where they co- 
incided with county lines, none of the original 
boundaries were preserved, each "military town 
supplying territory for two or three re-orgaui/ed 
towns. Tlie onlv""niilitary' town overlapping a 
county line is that of Sterling which contributed 
territory for both Wayne and Cayuga counties. 
The numbering of the towns began with Ly.san<ler 
near the north east corner of that tract (the sec- 
ond ■■military" town south of Lake Ontario) and 
W!is cairied south going from east t<i west. 

The towns, jjlaced in the onler in which they 
were numbered, together with the counties which 
have since ab.sorlied them, are as follows: No. 1, 
Lvsander, Onondaga; H, Hannibal, Oswego; 8, 
Ciito. C'ayuga; 4, linitus, Cayuga; 5, Caniillus, 
Onondaga; ti, ('icero, Ono-udjiga; 7, Manlius, On- 
ondaga; H, Aurclius, Cayuga; 0, Marcellus. Onon- 
ihiga; lO.l'ompey, Onondaga; 11, Romulus, Seneca; 
l'2,Scipio.Cavuga; l:!, Senqji-onious, Cayuga; 14, 
TuUv, Onondaga; 1."., Fabius, Onondaga; Hi, 
Ovi.i, Seneca; 17, Milton, Cayuga; LS, Eocke, 
Cavuga; lO, Homer, Cortland; 20, Solon, Cort- 
land; 21, Hector, Schiivler; 22, Ulysses, Tomp- 
kins; 23, Uryden, Tompkins; 24, Virgil, Cortland; 
2.'), Cincinnatus, Cortland; 20, .Junius, Seneca; 
27, Galen, Wayne; 28, Sterling, Wayne and 

Cav'iga. .X. J 1 1 

The Federal covernmeiit having offered lanils 
in the west to the soldiers of the revolution, the 
state laid out the military tracts to keep as many 
here as possible, ottering a bonus of 100 acres to 
privates who would relincpiish their western 
claims and accept this oiler of fiOO acres of land in 
this Stat*! before July 1, 1700. The state reserved 
in each town two lots for .schools, two for churches 
and two to be distributed among commissioned 
officers. The allotment of lands was to be made 
by drawings. 

In default of a settlement on each GOO acres 
within seven years the land was to revert to the 
state. Fifty acres of each lot, called the "survey 
fifty," was subject to the charge of forty-eight 
shillings (Sfi.OO) to j)ay for surveying, and if that 
were not paid in two years the "turvey fifty" was 
to be sold. Compliance with these two main con- 
ditions gave the patentee full title to the whole 
GOO acres. 

The distriljution of lots occurred July 3, 1700, 
under the direction of the governor, lieutenaut- 



govei-nor and four state officers. The names of 
the claimants of the land were placed on ballots 
in one box and numbers corresponding to the al- 
lotments were placed on ba'lots in another box. 
The person appointed by I he commissioners first 
drew the ballot containing a name and then the 
ballot cotaining the number of the lot; in which 
manner each claimant's allotment was determined. 



Original Oneida Reservation. — That nation 
secured to itself by treaty with the stiite of New 
York at Fort Schuyler Sept. 22, 178.S,in perpetuity 
the tract of Land including a large part of the pre- 
sent counties of Madison and Oneida and a strip 
along the e.astern line of Onondaga county. This 
treaty followed that made with the Onondagiis in 
about ten days, the same commissioners serving 
in both cases. The Oueidivs received "cash down" 
.S2,000 in money, S2,000 in clothing and other 
goods, SI, 000 in provisions and .S-JOO to be ii.sed 
in building a grist and saw mill at their village. 
The ( )iieidas were also to receive $000 in cash or 
goods annually. The northern half of their re- 
servation the Oneidas were lu-ohibited from leas- 
ing or selling; but the other (southern) portion— 
a strip four miles wide— could be leased in i)art or 
the whole not to exceed twenty-one years. The 
state further reserved to the Indians and others to 
land and encamp ui)on, vii: "One half mile squaie 
at the distance of every six miles of the Lands 
along the northern banks of the Oneida lake; one- 
half mile in breadth of the lands on each side of 
Fish creek; and a ccmvenient juece of laud at the 
fishing place in the Onondaga river about three 
miles from where it issues out of Oneida lake. 

Emigrants In Oswego, 1828. - Some obser- 
vations from a letter dated Constantia, Dec. 2, 
1828, to the children in old England will 1k3 in- 
teresting as showing what Osw ego county was in 
that day: "We can buy good land for 18 shillings 
per acre; but buying land is not one-(piiu-ter jiart 
[of our troubles|, for the land is as full of trees as 
yourwoods are full of stubs; and they are from 4 to 
U) rods long, and from 1 to 5 feet through them. 
♦ ■• You may buy beef for Ijd i)er pound and 
mutton the same; salt butter, 7d, cheese 3d, tea 
4s, M, sugai- 7d, candles 7d and soap 7d per 
pound. Wheat brings 4«, Gd, and com and rye 
2s per bushel. • • I get 2s, 4d a day and 
my board an<l have as much meat to eat three 
times a day as I like. " • Hnt clothes is dear; 
shoes, os; "half-boot.^ IGs; calico from lid to Is, 4d 
per yard; stockings 28, Od; flannel 4s per yard; 
superfine clotli from 4s, i;d to 1£ per yard; now all 
this is counted in English money. • • We 
have two or tbrec miles to carry our grist and four 
miles to go to the store; another thing is we have 
no brewhouse near so we cannot get any yeast to 
bakewith,so we are obliged to make risings • • we 
sometimes have heavy bread * • but with all 
inconveniences 1 bless God for sending me to 
\nierica ♦ * Let me know whether you will 
come to America or not. * * You will want 
l.£, 10s to get to where I am, both old and young. 
♦ '♦ and when you get to the <piarautine ground 
■• ♦ the best wiiv for you to come is to come up 
to Albany in a tow boat"; when yon get to Syra- 
cuse call" for enU>rtainment at the sign of the Far- 
mer's Accommodation; and there you will find us 
out." 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUV^ENIE OF MEXICO. 



69 



Grace Episcopal Church. — In the year of 

our Lord, l.s;50, there were living in this village, 
Luther HheUinger Conklin and his wife, Frances 
Rebecca, who were the first couinmnicants of the 
Eiiiscojjal church in this village, as far as is known 
to us. With the exception of the burial service, 
the offices of the church were not known here, 
until 1848; when the Rev. E. DeZeng was invited 
by Bishop De Lancy and services were held until 
March, 18-19. On December -t, 1848, a Parish 
was organized under the name of the ■'Rector, 
AVardens and Vestrymen of Grace Church in the 
village of Mexico, " and the officers elected. The 
rector was Rev. Edward De Zang; the wardens 
were Charles Benedict and Alexander Whaley and 
the vestrymen wei'e J. E. Bloomtield, Cyrus 
Whitney,' Wm. Cooper, jr., L. F. Warner, Levi 
Downing, L. M. Conkliu, N. AUen and L. 
D. Smith. In March, 1849, Mr. De Zeng, 
being c]uite ill, retired. Services now were 
held occasionally by Dr. Galiandet (who 
was greatly interested in deaf mutes, many 
of whom were confirmed and became valua- 
ble members), and others. The parish was 
re-organized March 29, 1869, and regular 
services were begun l)y Rev. T. E. Pattison, 
who came from Syracuse for this piu-pose. 
In the spring of 1870 the jjresent site was 
secured and preparation for the new build- 
ing was actively begun. C)n June 22, 1870, 
the corner stone was laid bv the Rt. Rev. 
F. D. Huntington, S. t! 1)., Bishop of 
Central Xew York. At tliis time the war- 
dens were M. Bradbury and L. Conklin, 
and the vestrymen were L. D. Smith, J. 
M. Wing, William Cooper, G. W. Pruyne, 
J. B, Taylor and C. K.Tuller. On June If!, 
1871, the building wa-s completed, costing 
over .$14,000, nearly half the sum being 
given by members and by citizens of this 
viUage and vicinity. Donations for his fund 
were received from Mr. W. C. Pierrepont. 
R. C. Morgan, Benjamin Doolittle and jjer- 
haps one or two others. The chui'ch was 
built ui)on a twelfth century ])lan, of blm.sh 
gray stone, with brick facings. The pro- 
]iortions of the building are perfect, and the 
interior of the building is in exquisite taste. 
The windows are of the best cathedral stained 
glass. The exquisite chancel window was 
given by the State Association of Deaf Mutes in 
memory of its first president, John W. Chandler. 
One memorial window was contributed by Mrs. 
W. A. Loomis and one by Mrs. Sarah A. Conklin; 
the Rose window by friends of Mrs. George D. 
Babcock of Mexico. The bell was a gift from 
Miss Fannie Conklin and her brother L. H. Conk- 
lin, in loving remembrance of their jmrents. The 
altar, bi.shop'8 chau- and credence liracket were 
presented by a class of young ladies of Christ 
Church, Oswego, and thejiulpit, desk and rector's 
chair liy Miss Johnson and her friends of Trinity 
church, Hartford, Conn. Miss Anna French of 
Utica, daughter of Mr. Benjamin F. French and 
his wife Martha French (who later on resided 
here and were most active and helpfid members), 
gave the altar rail. Rev. Mr. Watson presented 
the altar cross, H. Chandler the communion plate, 
Wm. Ely the stoles, while the lectern, font and 



first altar cloths were given by the Sunday school. 
Rev. Mr. Pattison was succeeded by Rev. G. 
H. Watson in 1870, during whose rectorship, on 
June 1(), 1871, the opening service was celebrated 
with the presence and assistance of nine other 
clergymen. Dr. Beach, of Oswego, preaching the 
opening sermon and communion was administered 
to more than a hundred persons. In 1874, Rev. 
B. T. Hall took charge of the parish imd through 
his efibrts a fine Steve k Turner pipe organ, cost- 
ing .SI, 150 was purchased and placed in the build- 
ing. At this time Mrs. Adelaide M. Piu-ker, a 
professor and teacher of music from the western 
part of the state, was ai)pointed organist and mus- 
ical director, and as such she has served dihgently 
and faithfully from that time till the present. 
Rev. W. L. Parker was the next minister in 
charge, followed by Rev. R. M. Hayden ; and on 
his leaving Dr. Jo-sejih Cross was called. 




Dunwiok, Photo. "^ GK.ICE^EPISCOPAL CHIRCH 

This parish wLU always hold in faithful remem- 
brance Rev. F. B. A. Lewis, M. D., who was 
asked to take charge of this church in 1879. At 
this time there was a debt remaining on Grace 
church of about .§(1,000 which Dr. Lewis most 
generously assumed liy consent of the vestry, and 
with a small salary, undertook the task of raising 
this amount, giving of his own jirivate means the 
sum of $2,000 and three months' salaiy. He re- 
ceived nearly .S^lOO, donated in pledges in Mexico 
and vicinity, about $500 from church people in 
Oswego, about .$1.50 through .solicitation of George 
I). Babcock of ^Mexico, from friends in Water- 
town and other places, and $2,(500 from the women 
of the parish; and he finally .saw the property 
honestly free from all debt or incumbrance what- 
ever, and conveyed to the "Trustees of the Par- 
ochial Fund," and the building consecrated on 
October 3, 1882. It would he unworthy a "his- 
torian" to omit honorable mention of the work of 



40 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



tlie women of Grace cliuroli. Among the earliest 
workers who formed an "Aid Society" were Mrs.L. 
H. Conkliu, Mrs. Morris l?rown. Mrs. .1. M.W'ing, 
JVfr.s. George 1). Hal)cock, >rrs. (i. Pniyne, Mrs. 
F. C. Tnller, Mrs. A. Halleck. Mrs. A. Mason. 
Mrs. Jacol) Brown, Mrs. W. H. Penfield, 5Irs. F. 
Carpenter, Mrs. H. Rider, Mrs. .T. Chandler, Mrs. 
J. Driggs, Mrs. .\. M. Parker, Mrs. .\ndrew 
.Tohu.son, Mrs. Lingenfelter, Mrs. A. Houglitou, 
Mrs, .Tosie Smith Collins, Mrs. T. .Tetl'reys. Mi.sses 
Fannie Conklin, .\lta ('ole and Nettie Fletcher. 
Hy their nnit«'d labor the f-vim of .S'2.t)(iO was jiaid 
on the church deht, over §800 on carijets and fur- 
njK'es, over $'2'M to the organ fnnd, besides mnch 
given for various purposes. Nearly $'J.")0 of this 
money Wius raised by gathering, trimming and 
s-lling ground pine, and nearly all of tlie above 
amounts represent hard labor Many of the 
workers of those days have passed on to the land 
•'whence none return." 

.Among later workers, asi<le from those already 
mentioned, are Mrs. Amelia I). Richardson, Mrs. 
Wm. Adams, Mrs. M. Preeman, Mrs. A. Bai'ker, 



Big Fire of '64.— On .Tiily 22, 1864, there viim 

a great conflagraticm. Tlii.s was the most alarm- 
ing and destnictive of our tires; almost one-half 
of the business i)art of the town was laid in a.shes. 
A severe drouth wa,s i>revailing at the time. The 
Mexico hotel, Whitney block, SneU block, po.st- 
ollice and twelve other buildings were destroyed. 
Everything wa.s burned oH on the so\ith side of 
Main street from Dr. Snell's residence down to 
Water street, and also two dwellings on East Hill. 
The tire broke out about 3 p. m., in SneU \- Hunt 
ingtou's drug store. A boy was drawing some 
uaptha, which aceidentidly got on tire and spread 
with most alarming rajadity. 

The following were the sufl'erers; SneU & Hunt- 
ington, .1. .T. Parkhurst,.!. Y. Smith, L. D. Smith, 
Dr. Huntington, .1. Didier, Stone k Tnller, J. J. 
Lamoree. .Ta.s. Bailev, -T. .1. Jackson. M. Youngs, 
,T. N. Holmes, Whitnev .V Skinner, D. W. C. 
Peck, Drake A- Mitchell. .1. Blakeslee, R. A. But- 
ler, Mrs. Firth, Iv Becklard, J. B. Taylor, J. R. 
Driggs, J. W. Chandler, E. Cole, N. Herbert. 
Taylor & Barritt, W. Peulield, C. Tickner, J. 




lliHsticl rhdlu. WOMAN'S MISSION.VltY SOCIETY I'ltESBYTf;!! l.\N CHfKCH. 

Top Ki)w-(Ult to riifhtl Mrs. l.awtim.'Mrs. Eniiiv Tullir, Mrs. E, .1 . I'arniclee, Mrs. Hardv. Mrs. Hymn 
Miller. Mrs. .1. M. Smith, .Mis. Willis Tltlttliv, Mrs. Charles i;varts. Mrs. II. II. Dol.soii, Mrs. Carrie Etet ker. Mis. Geii. 
W. Stone. .Midcllr Umv- Mrs. G. A. Ddvls. Miss Mini. Ha ItyiiiKton. Mrs, .\. W. Wooilnitf. Mrs. Holli.lay, Mrs. Dr. 
(ireell, Mrs. Emoiy. .Mrs. II. MiMuphriys, Mrs. W. II. Kiclianisoii, Mrs. 10. Gates, .Miss .\iuia liaril, Mrs. Carl Taylor. 
Lower How— Miss Lillian Hardy, Miss I^ena .1. Severant-e, Mrs. Geo. Matthews, Mrs. l»r. Geo. 1', .lohiison, Mrs. .1. 
Porter, Mrs. E. I Stone, Mrs. Hurliii); ham., 

Simons, E. D. (ioit, F. (.ioS, J). Morse, Humph- 
ries .t Scarritt, H. Webb, S. Clark, A. Thomas. 
H. T. Butler, R. Howard and others. Entire los.s 
about $70,000. Insurance about .§30,000. 



Mrs. L. BequUlard, Mrs. Morehouse, Mrs. Wid- 
worth, Mrs. M. (Collins, Mrs. .1. Hartson, Mrs. 
Smith; the young ladies of the church; Mrs. B. 
F. French and Mrs. G. 1). Babeock, the latter 
lieing very successful in various means used for 
earning an<l collecting money. 

Mr. B. F. French, who died in December, 1901, 
in Utica, served as committeeman a numler of 
year.s and managed the financial art'airs of the 
church with acknowledged alnlity. He was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. J. M. Wing, one of otir olilesf 
churchmen. Eat/'r the position was given by our 
revered Bishop, to another faithful, zealous mem- 
ber of many years' standing, Mr. (ieorge D. 
Babeock, who guides atl'airs with wisdom and 
discretion at the present time. 



Earl of Selkirk's Estate. — It is not genendly 
known that the land at the mouth of Salmon 
river was once selected for an estate for an Eng- 
lish lord who inten<led to build a large house and 
establLsh a "seat" in the wilds of .\inerica. On 
Nov. Ki, 17!l(l, three miies square of country en- 
closing what is now Selkirk and lying north of the 
river, was bought by ^Ir.s. Coldeu in trust for 
Thomas Rnnglass, Earl of Selkirk. It was from 
this new projirietor, who never took actual pos- 
session of the |)roperty that the present locality 
obtained its name-Selkirk. At that time it lay 
in the town of Mexico. 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



41 




ItdiiciH-cl Phcito. 

KEV. GEORGE UAYLESS. 

The Presbyterian Church. — [By George 
Goodwin I — 111 the early years of the laht century 
Mexico was one of the frontier stations of civiliza- 
tion. The land was covered with gi'eat and gloomy 
forests. The settlers -nere few and scattering, 
mostly from New England but among them were 
])ers(iiis of culture and ability. They were poor 
and it required constant toil and hard struggles to 
gain food and clothing. Notw-ithstauding their 
licivcrty, however, they were lully sensible of the 
ad\antages of churches and schools and their first 
thought was to secure tlie same for themselves 
and their children. Such was the social condition 
liere when the original Presbyterian society, from 
which the present village church is a branch or 
outgrowth, was formed. It waS one of the earliest 
planted in this region. 

It was organized Aug. 20, 

ISIO. in Shubal Alfred's 

liarii in this village, the 

Rev. Simon Waterman 

presiding at its formation. 

Its membershii) was at 

first composed entirely of 

women, as follow.s: — Mrs. 

Shubal Alfred, Mrs. Mary 

Whteler, Mrs. Rebecca 

^latbews, Mrs. Sarah 

Beebe, Mrs Eunice Wil- 
liams, Mrs. Mirian South- 
worth and Mrs. Hannah 

Ho.smer. In May, LSll, 

at the home of Shubal 

.\lfred a more thorough 

1 >usiness organization was 

for iieil to have charge 

of its temporal atikirs and 

the first trustees of the 

church, elected at this 

meeting were Peter Pratt, 

Barnett Whipple, Sher- 
man Hosmer, Shubal Al- Duuw icli, riiuto. 



fred and Calvin Tiflany. From this time the church 
had a very succes.sfu] career and in a few years 
gained a large membership. It embraced terri- 
torially the .settlements of Parish, Prattville, 
Texas, Colosse and Mexico and all the region 
about these places. The Revs. Israel Brainaril, 
Oliver Leavitt and M. Dunlap were among the 
early preachers. The Rev. David R. Dixon was 
its efHcicnt pastor from 1.S17 to 1.S33. E])liraiiii 
(rates, Daniel Locke and Edmund Wheeler were 
the tii-st elders. 

1 )uring the early years the church services were 
held at different points in barns, dwellings, groves 
and school houses. Al>out 182.") the society hav- 
ing become strong and vigorous, started a move- 
ment to buihl a meeting house. 1 hen it was found 
that the society was not destined to perpetual 
jieace and prosperity. Unhap])y diU'erences a' use 
over the question of the location of ihe church edi- 
fice. Years of contention followed and all etibrts to 
effect a cimipromise on location failed. The final 
result was the erection of two meeting houses, 
one on Pratham Hill in 1829 and the other in this 
village a little later. The Pratham society con- 
tinued until about 18tJ0 when it disbanded. The 
village church in one sense an offshoot of the 
society previously described, was orgMuized ^lay 
5, 1829 and instituted by Revs. Olive rAyre, Raljih 
Robinson and Oliver Leavitt, a commit' ei! 
appointed by the Oswego Presliytery Feb. 24, 
18:^11, as the First Presbyterian church of Mexico- 
ville. The membershiji at first consisted of the 
following persons Shubal and Lucinda Alfred, 
Nathaniel and Lucinda Butler, Lsaac and Lydia 
Stone, Anson and Eliza Gu.stin, Samuel and Cain- 
line Wilson, .\lexander and Mary McNitt, Edmund 
Levi, Lucy, Mary and Lavina Mathews, Sally and 
Louisa Davis, CliU'k and Abigail Beebe, .Jal)inand 
Mehnda W^iod, Asa Allen, Catherine Wheeler, 
Laura Goit, Sal'y Ames, Nancy Lord, Sophia 
Taft, Fanny Wood and Eunice Killam. 

The following pastors have served the church 
suceessivelv: — Revs. Ralph Robinson, Oliver Ayer, 
Alfred White, J. A. Hart, Charles Bowles, D." R. 
Dixon, Wm. Blodgett, John Eastman, .Tosiah 
Leonard, Russel Whiting, Daniel Van Valkeuburg, 
Henrv Parker, Thomas A. Weed, .Tames P. Strat- 




THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



42 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



ton, John Q. Ailiims. .Tobn R. Lewis and George 
Uayloss. The Rev. Thomas A. Weed iiiiiiistered 
to this society about 'J8 years and the Rev. Geo. 
Baylors was its jHistor for the same number of 
years. 

In 185H the cluirch editiee was enlargeil and 
enth'ely remodeled giving it a more modern a\y 
pearauce, and it was again extensively repaired in 
1H7!>. Tlie parsonige was also remodeled and en- 
larged a few years since. 

The following is the present l)oar 1 of trustees:^ 
Charles W. Had way. .Tames B. Driggs, Geo. W. 
Stone, Edward T. Stone. Willis E. Tittany, Elisha 
W. (iates, .\sa L. Samp.son, (iardener S. Tnllar 
and Earl S. Taylor. Roderick A. Orvis is super- 
intendent of tlie Sunday school. Many pro.iper- 
ous men and devoted women have gone forth from 
this organization. Its good influence has been far- 
reaching. Its "lines have gone into all the earth 
and its words to the end of the world." 

Judg'es, Court of Appeals, — Those who have 
honored the Court of Appeals bench of this state: 
Freeborn (i. .Jcwett, Onondaga county; (ireene C. 
Bronson, New York; Charles H. Ruggles, Dutch 
ess; Addison (Jartluer, Monroe, elected .Tune 7, 
1847; Samnel A. Foote, Ontario, appointed vice 
Bronson, resigned, April 11, 1851; Alex. S. John- 
son, Oneida, elected Nov. 4, 1851; Hiram Denio, 
Oneida, appointed vice Jewett, resigned — elected 
June 23, l.Sj:i, for balance of term, re-elected 1857; 
(reorge F. Comstock, Onondaga, elected vice 
Ruggles, resigned, Nov. (i, 1855; Saumel L. Sel- 
den, Monroe, elected Nov. 6, 1855; Henry E. 
Davies, New York, elected Nov. 8. 1858; Wifliam 
I!. Wright, Sullivan, elected Nov. 5, 18()1; Henry 
It. Sclden, IMonroe, app. vice S. L. Selden, re- 
.ssgned, .Fuly 1, ].S(i2— elected Nov. 3, 18(1:!; John 
K. Porter. .Vlbany, ai)p vice H. R. Selden, re- 
siguiHl, .Tan. 2, 1 8G5—elected Nov. 7, I8(i5; Ward 
Hunt, ()n<ida, elei-ted No. 7, 18l!5; Martin (irover. 
Alleghany, elected Nov. 5, 18()7; Lewis B. Wood- 
ruti'. New York, ajip. vice Porter, resigned, Jan. 
4, ]8i;,S: Charles Mason, Madison, ap]). vice 
Wright, deceased, Jan 20, ]8(i8; Robert Earl, 
Herkimer, elected Nov. 2, 18(j|)— C'hief Justice, 
Jan. 25, 18S»2; .John .V. Lott, King.s, elected Nov. 
2, 18(;i). Under the Constitution of 18ti!), the fol- 
lowing have lieeu Chief Jcsticrh: Sanford E. 
C;hurch, Orleans, May 17, 1870; Chas. J. Fol- 
ger, app. vice Church,' deceased, Mav 20, 1880— 
elected Nov. 2, 1880; Charles Andrew.s, Onondaga, 
app. vice Folger, resigned, Nov. 10, 1881— Nov. 
7, 1802; W'lu. {;. Ruger, Onondaga, Nov. 7, 1882; 
Alton B. Parker, Ulster, Nov. 2, 1897. Associ- 
ates: William F. Allen, Oswego, JMartin (Jrover. 
.\lleghany, Riifiis W. I'eckham, .Mbanv, Charles 
J. F(dger, Ontario, Charles ,\. liap.dlo. New York, 
and Chai-les Andrews, Onondaga, May 17, 1870; 
Alex. S. Johnson, Oneida, aj.p. vii^e' Peckha'ii, 
decea.sed, Dec. 2'.), 187:i; TUeodore Miller, Colum- 
bia, Nov. :), 1874; Robert Earl, Herkimer, ai>p. 
vice (irover, deceased, Nov. 5, 1875 -elected Nov. 
7, 187(i- re-elected Nov. 4, bS'.li); Sanuu'l Hand, 
Albany, app. vice Allen, decea.sed. June 10, 1878; 
George F. Danforth, Monroe, Nov. 5, 1878; Fran- 
cis M. Finch, Tompkins, app. vice Folger chosen 
chief judge, May 2.5, 1880— elected Nov. 8, 1881; 
Benjamin F. Tracy, Kings, a))]i. vice Andrews, 
chosen chief judge, Dec. 8. bssi; Rufus W. Peck- 
ham, Albany, Nov. 2., ].8Si;; John Clinton (iray. 
New York, app. vice Rapallo. deceased, .Tan. 25, 



1888- elected fuU term, Nov. 1888; Denis O'Brien, 
.Teflerson, Nov. 5. 1881); Isaac H. Jfayuard. Dela- 
ware, app. vice Earl chosen chief judge, .Tan. 20, 
1802; Edward T. Bartlett. New York, Nov. 7, 
1893; Albert Haight, Erie, Nov. (i. 1894. 

Present Court of Appeals (terms expire) — CniEi': 
Albm B. Parker, Ulster, Dec. 31, 1911. As-soci- 
,vrEs: .Tohn Clinton (Jrav, New Y'ork, Dec. 31, 
1902; Denis O'Brien, Jetl'erfion, Dec. 31, 1903; 
Edward T. Bai-tlett, New York, Dec. 3], 1908; 
Albert Haight, Erie, Dec. 31. 1909; Celora E. 
Martin, Broome, Dec. 31, 1909; Irving (i. Vann, 
Onondaga, app. vice Peckham resigned, Dec. 31, 
1910. 

Height of Principal Summits in the state. — 
Mount Marcey, Essex Co., 5,4t)7; Dix Peak, Es- 
sex Co., 5,200; Mount Mclntyre, Essex Co., 5.18;^; 
Mount McMartiu, Essex Co., 5,000; :Mount San- 
danoni, E.ssex Co.. 5,000; Mount Nipjiletop, Es- 
sex Co., 4,900; Mount Whiteface, Essex Co, 4,- 
900; Mount Ph.araoh, Essex Co., 4,500: Mount 
Tailor, Hamilton Co., 4, .500; Mount Seward, 
Franklin Co., 5,100; Mount Emmons, Hamilton 
Co, 4,0)0; Mount Grain, Warren Co., 3,000; Rnund 
Top, Greene Co., 3,804; High Peak, (ireene Co., 
3,718; Pine Orchard, (ireene Co.. :!,0(I0; M(miit 
Pisgah, Delaware Co., 3,400; Koeklaiid Blount, 
Sullivan Co., 2,400; Riplev Hill, Ouomlaga Co., 
1,983: Walnut Hill, Sullivan Co., 1,980; Mount 
Toppin. ('ortlaud Co.. 1,700; Pomjiey Hill. On- 
ondaga Co., 1,743; Beacon HiU, Dutchess Co., 
],(i85; Old Beacon, Putnam Co., 1,471. Bull Hill. 
Putnam Co., 1,580; Anthony's Nose, Putnam Co., 
1,228; Butter Hill, Orange Co., 1,529; Crow's 
Nest, Orange Co., 1,418; Bear Mount. Oiange 
t;o., 1,3.50. 

First Town Board. — When Me.vico was origin- 
ally organi/.eil as a town the law provided that the 
tirst town meeting should be held at the house of 
Benjamin Morehouse, near the presi'iit village of 

Jaiuesville; but no town municipality was etl'ected. 
When the town was re-organized in 179(i it was 
lU'ovided that the meeting should be at .Tohn 
Meyer's, Rotterdam. A year passed without or- 
ganization, then Sanford Clark. Michael Meyers 
and Eleazer Closely, justices for Herkimercouiity 
made the following appointments that the west 
end of the big town might go on and assist in ef- 
fecting ]niblic conveniences: Oliver Stevens, town 
clerk; .Vmos Mathews, Soli):naii Waring and Lnke 
Mason, as.se.ssors; Elijah Cartter and Messrs. 
]\Iathews and Waring, constables; Mr. Waring, 
collector. 

First Town Meeting was held Ai)ril 3, 1798 
at which John Clever was elected supervisor; 
Benjamin Wright town clerk; .Tohn Bloomfield, 
Amos Mathews, Benjamin Gilbert and Luke 
Ma.son overseers of the jioor; Samuel Waring col- 
lectcu-; .Tohn Bloomtield, Samuel .birvis, Reuben 
IlamiitoM highway com misi-ioners;. Tared Shei)ard, 
.\iiios .Maihews, .\aidn Van Valkeuburgh con- 
stables; .\mos Mathews, Henry Fall feiu'c viewers; 
.Tohn Meyer, Samnel Royce, BeLJamin Wright 
school commis.'^ioners. 

The second town meeting was held at the house 
of Luke Mason and the third at Benjamin Winch's, 
I'ort Ontario; then the next at Phineas Davis' in 
Mexico village. 

Several to«n meetings were held at Calvin 
TitVanv's house a mile ea.st of the village. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



43 



"^ 



P .W ^ 





liKV. AUTHl K I). liEKUV. 

Rev. A. D. Berry, youngest son of John anil 
Loiiisn Berry, was born in Mexico, Aug. 7, 1872. 
After completing a course in Mexico Academy, he 
entered Syracu.se University from which he gi'ad- 
uated in 189,"). He belonged to the Delta Upsilon 
Fraternity and was editor of the University Herald 
for one ye.ar. 

In the fall of '95 he entered Brew Theological 
Seminary in Madison, N. J. In his senior year 
he won the fellowship prize. He then took a year 
of post graduate work in Drew Seminary and the 
University of New York. He wa.s ordained to the 
ministry in 1<S'.)S and served three years and four 
months as the pastor of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, iMa])lewood, N. J. Very early in life Mr. 
Berry expressed the conviction that he was called 
to the Mission Work and it was with that end in 
view that he i)rep.ared himself for the ministry. 
The fulfilment of his desire came last spring when 
Bishop Moore of the Methodist Episcopal church 
appointed him to the South Jai>an Mission with 
headquarters at Fukuoka, Jajmn. 

The Railroads of the County. — The Os- 
wego it Utica Railroad Company was chartered, 
May 13, 1836, but it did nothing for .several years. 
On April 2',), 1839, the Oswego & Syracuse RR. 
Co. was incorporated, the road being completed 
in October, 1818. The Rome & Watertown Rail- 
road Comjiany was chartered in 1832. Work was 
begrm at Rome in November, 1848, and in May, 
18.51, the road was constructed as far as Pierre- 
pont Jlmor. The Oswego & Rome Railroad 
Company constructed a road from Oswego to 
Richland station via Pulaski and Mexico in the 
fall of 18l),'5. The Oswego Midland Railroad Co. 
w.is incorporated Jan. 11. 1866. The road, ex- 
tending from Oswego to Jersey City, a distance 
ol 32.") miles, was completed in 1872. It is now 
known us the New York, Ontario it Western rail- 
road. The Syracuse Northern Railroad Company 
was chartered in 1870 and on the 18th of May in 
the same year construction was begun. The road 



was opened, Nov. 9, 1871. It is now a part of the 
Uome, Watertown & Ogdensburg system, leased 
by the New York Central k Hudson River Railroad 
Company, and extends from Syracuse to I'nliiski, 
where it connects with the Oswego and Mexico 
branch of the same system. The Lake Ontario 
Shore railroad, also a partof that system, was con- 
structed in 1871, connecting Oswego with Lewis- 
ton on the Niagara river. A branch road extending 
from Woodard,a station on the Syracuse Northern 
railroad to Fulton and there connecting with the 
\ew York, Ontario and Western railroad, gives the 
New York Central entrance to Oswego direct from 
Syracuse. The R. W. & O. .system was leised to 
the New York Central in March, 1891. 

Stebbins Roderick Orvis was born in Mex- 
ico, May 16, 1822 and was married to Mary Jane 
.\llen on Dec. 17, 1816. Six children were born to 
this union of whom four survive, Frederick A. 
( )rvis of Mexico, Charles Sumner Orvis of Hamil- 
ton, Mrs. F. W. Roseljrooke of Hoosick Falls and 
Mrs. D. A. Fradenburgh of .\ltmar. Mr. Oi-vis, a 
carpenter by trade, moved to this village about 
33 vears ago and many well built houses stand as 
a monument to his conscientious work. Mr. Orvis 
was especially noted for having an unusually 
clear, sweet strong bell- like tenor voice and he 
conducted a choir in church for fifty years. He 
was well known in neighboring towns as a singing 
teacher. He died after a long iUness on April 22, 
1890 leaving behind him a reijutation for purity 
of character, and of strict integrity which had 
gained for him the highest respect of the com- 
munity in which he lived. His wife a lady noted 
for her wit, warm heart and social qualities sur- 
vives him. He was a member of the Presbyterian 
church, a loyal friend and a cheerful companion. 

Officers in the Rebellion from Mexico in- 
cluded Brigadier-tieneral ( liles A. Smith ; Major- 
(ieneral Morgan L. Smith; Capt. E. L. Hunting- 
ton; Capt. John Sawyer; Capt. Cyrus V. Hartson; 
(!apt. Nelson Ames; Capt. Samuel Nichols; Capt. 
J. I). Steele; Lieut. Edson D. (ioit; Lieut. JMar- 
sha'l Rnndell; Lieut. George Barse; Surgeon Al- 
len Huntington; Surgeon T. J. Green. 




Borrowed Photos. 

MRS. K. A. ORVIS. 



R. A. ORVIS. 



44 



"GRIP'S" HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Woman's Foreign Missionary Society 

of the M. E. Chm-ch.— On N.iv. J. ISTl, Mr.s. Dr. 
Win. Butler of Boston, a returned niissionwv 
from India, and Mrs Foot of Ronic, N. Y., came 
t« this vilhme, held a meeting and organized a W. 
F. M. S., the first missionary society for women in 
the town. Mrs. Butler with her husband went to 
India in 1S.")(;, was tliei-e during the He|)oy rel)el- 
lion and established the Methodist E|)isco|)al mis- 
sion in North India. While in India slie was brought 
very close to the needs of the women of that 
country, and was well ])rppared to relite to the 
women of the lionie land tlie hardships and deg- 
redation of our heathen sisters. The object of 
this society is to aid in interesting christian 
women in the evangelization of heathen women. 
Any j)erson i)ayiug two cents a week or one dollar 
per year may become a member, and any ])erson 
contributing twenty dollars at one time shall be a 
life member. As a result of this meeting twenty- 
two women gave their names to this society. The 
following were the chai-ter members: ^fis. Dr. 



Oriffith: treasurer. Mrs. M. A. Peck; pajjer 
agent. Miss Florence Morehouse. Those «ho 
have acted in the capacity of president are as fol- 
lows: Mrs. Kundell in '72, Mrs. Ball in '73. Mrs. 
Hewitt in '74, Mrs. Skinner in '75, Mrs. Mains in 
'7(5, Mrs. Rundell in '77, Mi's. York in '78, Mrs. 
Peck in '75), '80, '81, Mrs. Washburn in '82. In 
1883 Mrs. Rundell wa.s elected presi<lent for life 
and held the positicm acceptablv for 13 vears. Mrs. 
I'eck was called to the office iii 18!tf!.'Mrs. J. H. 
Mvers in 18!)7and '!)8, :Mrs. L. B. Cobb in 1899, 
ly'OO to '02. Mrs. E. G. Smith in 19(12 and '03. 

Xiue women have become life members, viz: 
Mrs. Van Dn Zee. Mrs. S. ( )rvi<.. Mrs. H. Run- 
dell. :\Ir.s. D. H. Austin, Mrs. R. L. Nelson, Mrs. 
S. Pai-khurst, Mrs. H. Smith, Mrs. Mattie E, 
Baker. 

Nearly thirty-two years, Avith very few exce])- 
tions, the meetings have been held the first Wed- 
nesday in the month. For a number of years 
about as much money wa-s appropriated for home 
(such as local and frontier work) as fiir the foreign 




HiiPStcHl, Photo. WOM.VXS FOIU'.IGX .MISSIONAKY SOCIETY, M. E CHl'RCH. 

1. MI98M. Mltclicll. 2, Mrs. K. Dm U,:i, Mrs. F. Muiisim, 4, Mrs. W. Miller, n. Mrs. N. Patlon. Tliini Vicc-I'icsidcnt; 
II. Mrs D. Spicer, T. Mrs. K. HdUister, s Mrs. O. Webb. First Vice I'nsiclcnt: !i, .Mis. Lontrstreit. 111. Mis. .1. Herrv. 11, 
.Mr<. F. Cook, .Secretary; 1-'. Mrs. I). Holiius. i:i. Mrs. T. W. Skiimcr U. .Mrs. .s. oxiicr, 1.'), Mrs. K. .M.ntor. HI. Mrs. M. 
itiiker. 17. Mrs. L. .Sandliovcl, is, Mrs. E. Saiitli. President; W, Mrs. W. A. Kuliliins, Tri-asiner; 211. Mrs. .M. I). Sill. 21, 
.Mrs. A. Peck. 22, Mrs. P. Morsan. 2:1. Mrs. II. Keminffloii. 24. Mrs. H. llurton. 2."i. Mrs. .1. .Ullriys. 2ii. .Mrs. II. Hall, 
Si'cond Vicc-Presideijt; 27. Mrs. 1). Austin. (■orrespt>ii(liny Seorctary; 2S. Mrs. (_,. Itiirdick. 2i». >Irs. H. Adams. ,T0, 
Mrs. Ilrowii. 

Harriet Rundell. Mrs. ('. B, Tliompson. Mrs. 
Harriet N. Davis. Mrs. Sophia Lambie. IMrs. Sim- 
eon Parkliurst, Mrs. Celestia Bali, Mr-". Harriet 
Smith, Mrs. Cornelia Barber, Mrs. Almira Bal- 
lard, Mrs. James Brown, Miss Florence More- 
house, Mrs. R. L. Nelson. Mrs. ('. L. (irillith, 
Mrs. M. A. Peck. Mrs. Van Du Zee. Mrs. (1. E. 
liarton, Mrs. .1. W. Lawton, Mrs. .\rtemesia Men- 
ter, Mrs. C. Mains, :Mrs. S. Tiillar, .Mrs. V.. Drake, 
Mrs. (Rev.) W. K. Cobli. The first thirteen 
named have res|ionded to the ^Iast*'r's call. Six 
of the remaining number reside in other i)laces. 
Three only remain in the society, viz: Mrs. Peck. 
Mrs. Barton and Mrs. Menter. 

The first officers were a.s follows: President, 
Mrs. Dr. Harriet Rundell; vice |)resident. Mrs. 
W. R. Cobb; corresponding secretarv. Mrs. C. 
B. Thonip.son; recording Becretary, Sirs. ('. L. 



field, .\bout .'51,000 ill money and suiiplies has 
been given to both objects. More than two hun- 
dred names have been enrolled on the secretaries' 
books since Novendier, 1871. Up t<> date, March, 
1903, fifty of this number have died. At present 
there are forty-eight members. '1 he first special 
work which tlie society took up was the education 
of an ori)han girl in India, named Myra Ostrum 
Slack, for oue of the Sunday school te.icht fs. .\t 
present two orphans in India are l)eing cared for 
by the annual payment of .?20. each one of whom 
bears tlie name of Charloite Mains; idso S2"> is 
contributed annnally towards the salary <if a Bible 
Reader named Margaret .\iigusta Peck. Occas- 
ionally letters are receivetl from these per.sons. 
The success of this society is largely due to the 
deep interest which the late Mrs. (ieorge (ioodier 
(the first conference tccretary of Northern New 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




G. FRANKLIN SMITH. M. U. 

Yoi-k) and Miss Rosetta Coit look in missiomuy 
work. There is it special interest now as we have 
the honor of being associated with Kev. Arthur 
D. Berry of .Japan, a sou of one of the honored 
members of the society. 

Dr. G. Franklin Smith was born in Mexico. 
Oct. 4, bS(;7. ])anifl 1'. Smith, his grand fat lier, 
came from New Hampshire during the first (jiiar- 
ter of the last century and located m what is now 
Richland, which was then a part of the town of 
Mexico. Ezra G. Smith, his father, was born on 
that place and is still living there. He married 
the daughter of Hiram Benedict, a well known 
preacher in that secliou several years ago. Dr. 
Smith was educated in the Mexico .\cademy ami 
was graduated there in 
1888. The next year he 
attended the Genesee 
Wesleyan seminary at 
Lima, N.Y. Deciding to 
adopt the profession of 
medicine he first took a 
course in the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons 
at Keokuk, la., and in 
1HSI4 was a student in the 
Baltimore Medical col- 
lege, wheie he obtained 
the degree of M. D. Dr. 
Smith begun practice at 
Vermillion, N. Y., LS94, 
and after a short time 
there practiced at Fern- 
wond. In 1902 he located 
in this village where his 
in-aetice has steadily 
grown. During the pre- 
i<ent yeai' he bought the 
Bun'ows residence on 
North Jett'ersou street 
and made several im- 



provements, fitting it up in modern style so that 
it makes him a pleasant home with a commodius 
and centrally located oflice. Dr. Smith held the 
ai)])oiutmeut of medicid examine!- for several in- 
surance companies including the New Yoik 
Mutual, the Manhattan, the Connecticut General, 
the Canada Life and the K. (). T. M. He is also 
examiner in lunacy. On May 8, 1895, he married 
Lida May, the daughter of A. E. Raymond of the 
town of New Haven, and they have one child, 
Jesse Cai'lyle. The doctor is one of the active 
members of the Oswego County Medical Society 
and several of the fraternal organizations. 

Lakes of New York State. — Height above 
tide.— Avalanche, Essex Co.. 2,900 ft.; Colden, 
Essex Co., 2,8.31; Henderson, Es.sex Co., l,98fi; 
Sanford, Essex Co , 1,826; Eckford, Hamilton Co., 
1,791; Fulton C'hain (Sixth, Seventh and Eighth 
Lakes), Hamiltou Co., 1,776; Racket, Hamdton 

Co., 1,74.5; Eork-ed, Hamilton Co., 1,704; New- 
comb, Essex Co., 1,()98; Cattaraugus, Catlarangus 
Co., 1,665; Fulton Chain (Thiid, Fourth and 
Fifth Lakes), Herkimer Co., 1,645; Long, Her- 
kimer Co., 1,575; Cranlierry, St. Lawi'ence Co., 
1,570; Upper Saranac. Franklin Co., 1,.567; Tup- 
jiers, Franklin Co., 1,545; Rich, Essex Co., 1,545, 
Lower Samnac, Franklin Co., 1,.527; Pleasant, 
Hamilton Co., 1,500; Chautauqua, Chautauqua 
Co., 1,291; TuUy, Onondaga Co., 1,200; Schuy- 
ler, Otsego Co.. '1,200; Otsego, Otsego Co., 1,U«; 
Cazenovia, Madison Co., 900; Skaneateles, Onon- 
daga Co., 860; Crooked, Yates Co., 718; Owasco, 
Cayuga Co., 670; Cauandaigua, Ontai'io Co., 668; 
Seneca, 447; Cayuga, 387; Oneida, 369; Onon- 
daga 361; Ontario, 232; Champlain, 93. 

Historic Earth-works in Mexico. — .\11 about 
the east end of Lake (.)ntario and along its south 
shore there were in the beginning of the last cen- 
tury traces of old forts, earth works and redoubts. 
These were found in great number north of the 
Salmon River and were also sti-ewn along the 
Oswego river, and in the towns of Granby and 
New Hiiveii wen- cpiitc iiiinuT"!!'^. 




Borrowed Photo. THE MEXICO B.\ND. 

Top Row— (Loft til right) Warrt-n ISucli.Wara Walton, Li- 



Hoyt^-lUoii, (jeorj^c 
Burdii-k, .Ji'sse Lawton. Miildle Row— \V. H. Pentield, Waireu Gardner, Hert Buck, 
Chas. Sternburg-. Oliver B. Mowry. Lower Row— J. J. Cobb, F. L. Hoosc, Glen Buck, 
F. A. Thomas, Wm. Buck, .M. Fellows. Julius Ferney. 



46 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




KDWIN I,. HI .\T1N<;T()N. 
Edwin L. Huntington was lidrn in Mexico, 
K. Y., July .S, IS^t'-', I'fing the fduitli cbilil of a 
fiiinily of eight. His father eume to Mexioo in 
)H2il. Mr. Huntington finished liis stiidies at 
Mexico Acadeniy in 18.j(i and for the next few 
years he lived in the west. In ISIil, when the 
tidings of the a-^saiilt on Sumter fiew over the 
country, he was one of the first to leave his Imsi- 
ness and his home. Waiting for no bounties he 
volunteered as a jirivate soldier and went with the 
first regiment which left thecountv. He enlisted 
in (!apt. Payne's C!o. B., 24th N. V. Infantry. He 
took jiart in fifteen difterent engagements and at 
Chancellorsville he was the only ])rivate in Co. K. 
that eseai>ed injury. He was wounded at Freder- 
icksburg anil honorably discharged and mustered 
out May 211, IHt;;}. Mr. 
Huntington re-enlisted 
in ISIi.i as lid Lieutenant 
in Ca|jt. Frank Sinclair's 
Battery L., 5)th N. Y. 
.\rtillery, for three years 
and w lis promoted as Cap- 
tain, July I), 18(>.5. He 
was again slightly wound- 
ed at Cedar ("reek and 
was honorabl V discharged 
Sept. 29, lH(i."). Coming 
home again he was en- 
gaged in the drug busi- 
ness for a number of 
years. IiilSSd, Mr. Hunt- 
ington was unanimously 
nominated at the Itegiuli- 
licali County Convention 
as shcrilV on the tirst 
ballot and was elected 
by an unusually large 
majority. In lHi)4 he 
was elected supervisor of i)iiMwi<k. I'into. 



the town of Mexico and has held that office since 
to the satisfaction of the Uix payers. For a num- 
V)er yeai-s he wa-s commander of Melzar Kichards 
Post, (J. \. K., No. 3()7, and was very active in 
the raising of funds for the erection of the soldiers' 
monument. He Inus alw.iys manifested a deep 
interest in villiige improvements and to his nieans 
and energy the people are indebted tor the Mexi- 
co electric lighting system. In ISliS Mr. Hunt- 
ington was married to Florence A. .-Mleii and they 
have two children, ^Irs. ('linton E. Avery of 
Mexico, X. Y., and Mrs. L. (i. Pnlsifer, of ])r 
Ruyter, N. Y. His wife died in IHSS, and in ls:il 
he manieil Miss Marv A. Tourdot. Mr, Huntiii'j- 
ton has held many poi-itiniis of tnl^1 and always 
filled them with lionor. Keliable in his pU-dges, 
true to hi-- friends, he possesses indepeudem-e nf 
character to do what he thinks to be right. In 
whatever position he has been placed, the public 
has always evinced entire confidence in his ability 
and integrity. 

Pioneer Lost in Mexico. — The perils braved 
by the early pioneers of the town of Mexico were 
many. Oliver Stevens, living at Fort Brewertoii 
in 1792, started one morning in the spring of that 
year to attend a town meeiing for the town of 
Mexico which was to have been held in a house 
on Scribii's road near the present village of Mex- 
ico. Instead of taking the usual course — follow- 
ing the beaten iiatli by the wuy of the river or 
g(jing east to Scriba's road by the lake shore, he 
struck boldly into the woods iJeaded north carry- 
ing his gun and a lunch for mid-day. .\long late 
in llie afternoon he wils beset by wolves. I'hey 
were not bold but were iiersi&tent, driven fortli 
by hunger after a long winter, and followed him 
doggedly. Finally oue got uncoiufort ibly close 
and he shot it. After dragging the carcass some 
distance h<' Imilt a fire and removed the jielt. 
Here he bivouacked all night, keeping awake with 
great effort by walking round and round the tin' 
and sutl'ering consiilerably from cold. .\t day 
light he turned, as he sujiposed, toward home. 
But all of that day he wandered in the woods, 
again a second night intending to keep vigilant 




K. I. hint[xi;t(in s HE.sinEXrE. 



'GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



47 



watch for fear that if lie slept he would 1 le attacked 
by the wolves. But nature rebelled aud he at 
last fell asleep, but awoke at daylight consider- 
ably refreshed. In a few hours, alter wandering 
aimlessly, he reached the fort at O.swego, where 
he rested tliat day and night and returned home 
the next. The wolf pelt )iroved his claim to tlie 
bounty of ^-10, besides being of considerable value 
in itself. 

The First Road and Stag'e Coach in Central 
New York are thus ilrscribeil in ddcunientary his- 
tory of New York "by a gent!<^man to a friend": 
■•To remedy this inconvenience as to roads, the 
legislature of the state had, by an act passed in 
the session of 1797 taken the road from Fort 
Schuyler [now Kome] to (ieneva under their pat- 
ronage" [gi'anting a lottery]. The inhabitants of 
the country through which the road p issed sub- 
■scribed four thousand days of work, "which they 
])erforme(l with tidelity and cheerfulness." This 



Wemps' in Oneida Reservation, [Castle], 0; Sill's, 
at the Deep Spring, [Chittenango], 11; Keeler's, 
Junior, 12; Tyler'.«, Onondaga Hollow, 10; Rice's, 
Nine Mile Creek, 10; Cayuga Ferry, [Cavnga 
Bridge], '20; Powell's Hotel, Geneva, 13. 

The First Missionary in the town of Mexico 
was thi' l!ev. .John Taylor who came here in 1802 
as "a missionary" of the Presbyterian faith. A 
native of Westtield, Mass., and a graduate of Y'ale 
coUege in 1784 who had settleil in Deertield, he 
was commissioned by the Missionary society of 
Hampshire county, Mass., to iireaeh among the 
Settlers west of the HuiLson river. Being an in- 
telligent and observing man he made some rare 
observations with respect to the conditions of the 
country through which he passed. Travelling on 
horseback with j)rovisions in his saddlebags and 
letters of introduction to an occasional settler here 
and there who threw open their hou.ses to him, 
he jjlunged into the narrow forest trails which then 




Huested. Photo. B.\PTIST AID SOCIETY. 

Top Row— {left to right) Mrs. Tht-odore Green, Mrs. Ceha Copp. Miss Josephine Robinson, Rev. S. 
S. nidwell. Samuel Green, Theodore Green. Mis. S. S Bidwcll, ISlanche Munger, Mr.s. D. W. Wyant. 
Middle Row— Mrs. Frank ■\ndrews, Mrs. John Everleigh, Miss Julia Pilee, Mrs. Fred Hamilton Mrs. 
Arthur Norton, Mrs. Herbert Adams, Mrs. Anna Dan. Lower Row— Miss Bertha Johnson, Miss Grace 
Jolinson, D. B. Wj'ant, Miss Mable Everleigh, Miss Lena Auringer, Miss Florence Johnson. 



road 98 miles long, 64 feet wide and "paved with 
logs and gravel in the moist parts of the low 
country through which it passed," was so far im- 
proved beginning in the month of June 1797, 
that a stage started from Fort Schuyler on the 
80th of Sejitember [1797] and arrived at the hotel 
in (ieneva in the afternoon of the third day with 
four passengers. This line of road having been 
estal)lished by law," continues the writer, "not 
less than fifty families settled on it in the space of 
fonr months after it was opened." 

Two or three years afterwards two coiches were 
running weekly over this road between Albany 
and Geneva : and the following taverns, at indi- 
cated distances apart between Fort Schuyler and 
Geneva were open : From Fort Schuyler to Laird's, 
10 miles; Van Epjis', near Oneida Reservation, 6; 



were all the means there were of communicating 
between the few small hamlets on the frontiers of 
New I'ork. Piissing through the Mohawk Valley 
to Rome, then Fort Stanwix, he turned nortli, 
preaching wherever he could draw an audience, 
large or small. On July 24. 1802, he preached at 
Camden at the house of 'Sir. Curtiss to 100 per- 
sons. The next day he delivered a sermon to 150 
peojjle three miles north. From there he went to 
Redfield and turning west proceeded to Lake On- 
tario. He was then in the town of ]\Iexico now 
Sandy Creek, and stopped at the house of Mr. 
Hocldey foiu' and a half miles from the lake where 
on Sejit. 2, 1802, he preached to 40 peojJe. From 
there he went east and north preaching in the 
Black river country. In 1817 he located in Mon- 
roe county and in 18o2 went to Bruce, Macomb 
Co., Mich., where he died in 1840. 



48 



"GRIP'S"^HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Hiie>'.-.1. I'hotu. 

CKdKGE WKDl! .lOHXSDN. .1. A. .lOHXSOX. 

James A. Johnson was born la Jett'crson 
county ill 11S27 niid Ciinie to Mexico in 1H2S and 
has spent the most of bis life in this vicinity. He 
\va.s educated in tlie public schools and attended 
the Falley Seminary at Fulton. He read law in 
this village with Orla H. Whitney and Luke 1). 
Smith and afterwards attended the Albany law 
school. He was admitted to practice in all the 
courts of this state at Albany in 185.5, and has 
been in active ]iractice of his profession most of 
the time for nearly half a century enjoying a lu- 
crative ])ractic<> and representing numerous and 
important interests. He has been very success- 
ful in procuring pensions and has probably pro- 
cured more pen-ions than any attorney now living 



was tbrmcrly 
been a 



in the county. 
Mr. Johnson 
having always 
staunch democrat and 
having received the nom- 
ination of his par.y for 
various offices. He was 
the candidate on 
democratic ticket 
county treasurer of 
wego county in 'H57 
ran largely ahead of 



active in politics. 



Height of Water Sheds of New York 
above tide. — Hudson River and Ramapo at 
Moncey, Westchester Co., 557 ft; Hudson 
and Delaware rivers at Otisville, Orange 
Co., 900 ft; Hudson and Neversink rivers 
at Wawarsing, Ulster Co., S.50 ft; Hudson 
river and Jjake Ontario at Rome, ( )neida 
Co., 427 ft; Hudson river and Lake Erie 
at Tonawanda, Erie Co., 557 ft; Delaware 
and Susipiehanna rivers at Deposit Summit, 
Broome Co., 1,373 ft; Su.squehanna and 
Mohawk rivers at Bouckville. Madiscm ('o., 
1,127 f t ; Susi|uelianna river and ( )neidd lake 
at Tully, Onondaga County, 1,247 ft; 
Susquehanna river ami Cayuga liie at 
Ithaca summit, Tom])kins Co., 9(50 ft; 
Su.scjuehanna river and Seneca lake at 
Horseheads, Chemung Co., 884 ft; Sus- 
iiuehanna aud (xenesee rivers at Alfred 
Summit, Alleghany Co., 1,780 ft; Genesee 
and .\lleghany rivers at Cuba, Alleghany 
Co., 1,1)99 ft; Alleghany river aud Lake Erie 
at Little Valley Summit, Cattaraugus Co., 
1,1)14 ft; Mohawk river and Lake Ontario 
at Kasoag, Oneida Co., 53tj ft; Mohawk 
and Black rivers at BoonviUe, Oneida Co., 
1,120 ft; Lake Champlain aud St. Law- 
rence river .at Chateangav Summit. Franklin Co , 
1,050 ft. 

Driving Distances of Mexico from j)oints in 
the county — .Vmboy Center, 1().8; Bernhards Bay, 
24.1; Caughdenoy, 14.3; Kedfield Square, 25; 
Central Squai'e, 13.7; Cleveland, 20.2; Colosse, 
4.8; Constantia, 20.2; Fulton, 15.9; (iilbertsville, 
12.5; Granby Center, bS.O; Hannibal, 24,4; Han- 
nibal Center, 24.7; Hastings, 8.2; Hinmauville, 
17.5; Holmesville, 5.7; Hulls Corner.s, 24.1!; New 
Centerville, 14; New Haven, 4.8; Orw<'ll village, 
17; Oswego, 15.1; Oswego Falls. Ki.7: Palermo, 
7.4; Parish, ti.8; Ph<euix, 17.;i; Pubiski, 10; Sand 
Bank |.\ltmar), 14.3; Seneca Hill, l(i.4:S.'riba 
Corners, 10.9; Texas, 4.3; Vermillion, 4.9; Volney 
Center, 12.0; Sandy Creek, ll!; West Amboy, 14 3; 
Williamstowii. 10. 



the 
for 
Os- 
and 
his 

ticket in this and adjoin- 
ing towns, though of 
course was overborne and 
defeated by the great re- 
publican majority in the 
county. Mr. .John.son is 
still engaged inlheactive 
practice of law and is al.so 
engaged in the tire insur- 
ance business with his 
son, (leorge Webb .lohn- 
son, who is preparing for 
admission to the bar. 




DiiDwii'k. riioti 



UK. ( H.Mil.K.'i W. H.\DW.VYS KESIDENCE. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICCX 



49 




Il..rrci\vi(l I'lHili 



\V. A. KOIiBINS. 



Wilfred A. Robbins was bom on a farm in 
tlie towB of Warren, Herkimer Co , N. Y., of 
sturdy Xew England ancesfi-y. His maternal 
grandfather was the late Asa Beebe one of the 
early settlers of the town of Mexico ami was 
known as a business man of the strictest integrity. 
Miss Emma Beebe, the authoress and artist is an 
annt of Mr. Robbins. His father, Lyman Rol)- 
bins, was born in Herkimer county and was highly 
respected by all who knew him. He was honored 
l:)y being called to till various town ofiices in his 
native town, autl after moving to Mexico was 
chosen and held the office of town assessor for IH 
years. In l!^ti7 the subject of this sketch moved 
to this town with his parents where he has resideil 
since. He was educated in the comnion 
schools and at Mexico acaden y. In 1874 
his father took him in as partntr iii his mill, 
the tirm name being L. Robbins \' Son. 
They coudiicted business at Railroad Mills 
on ^rill street an I continued in business 
until ISill. In bSS" the mill in which they 
were in l)usiuess was burned. The firm 1 luilt 
a new mill on the old site and conducted 
business in tiiat Ipuilding until theu- retire- 
ment in 18ill. He was married in 187(i to 
Martha Whitney, a daughter of the late 
Ebenezer Whitney, who was a member of 
one of the oldest and most respected families 
iutown. He has always taken an active in- 
terest iu the success and welfare of the r<-- 
publ can party, having cast his first vote 
for John .\. Dix for governor in 1871. He 
was for several years a member of the re- 
publican town and county committees, and 
has held various minor town ofHces, acting 
for several years as clerk and afterwards as 
inspector of election. At present he is one 
of the justices of the peace of the town. In 
1891 he received the apijoiutment from Presi- 
dent Hamson of postmaster at Mexico and 
held that position until July 1, 1895. On 
January 1 



the senate committee on the Attah-s of Cities in 
the New York state legislature, serving until .\pril 
1, 1902. Senator Stranahan was chairman of the 
above committee during that time. He is now 
serving as collector of the port of New Y^ork. Up- 
on the assembling of the senate for the session of 
19(K, Mr. Rol)bins was appointed (me of the index 
clerks of that body which appointment is for two 
years. Mr. Robliins has always taken a promi- 
nent place in Masonic circles. He is a member of 
.Mexico Lodge No. l^ii, F. & A. M, , Mexico ('hapter 
Xo. 185, R. X. M., of Mexico, Dewitt Clinton 
Council Xo. 22, R. ct S. M., Laki Ontario Com 
maiiderv Xo. 32, K T., of Oswego, and Media 
Temple', A. A. O. X. M. S., of W.itertowii. ilc 
lield minor offices iu his lodge, and in 1891, '92 
and 'M he was Master of Mexico lodge. In 1891 
he was a member of the (Iraud Lodge, having 
been appointed by the Grand Master, 1). I). G. 
M., for the 19th district He is a member of the 
board of trustees of the M E. church of Mexico, 
haviug been clerk of that board for 20 years. 

Wm. B. Hutchinson was born in Pepperell, 

Worcester Co., Mass., July i, ISOli. He received 
a district school education in his native town. In 
early life he worked at the painter's trade in var- 
ious cities in the New England states. In 1833 
he was united in marriage to Amelia, daughter of 
Azariah Haskins of Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., X. 
Y. They resided in Poughkeepsie two years then 
went to Palmyra, Wayne Co., X. 1'., and in 1837 
removed to Mexico, Oswego Co., X^. y., where he 
IJurchased a large farm and became a successful 
and scientific farmer. He was energetic and hon- 
orable and possessed of a cheerful disposition; 
and took great interest m the welfare of tbe town, 
lieiug interested in educational matters he did 
much to raise the Colosse s-chool to a high stand- 
ard, and was the organizer of the Colosso ileliafing 
.society. A democrat until the organization of the 
reiniblicau party he became attached to ihe latter, 
but upon tlie nomination of Horace (Jreely tor the 




1890, he was chosen clerk of 



liorrowed Photos. ELLEN Hl'TrHIXSOX JOVCK. 
WILLI.XM n. IIITCHIXSO.N. 

A.MELIA HASKINS HITCH I XS( IN. 



50 



'(iltlP'S" HLSTOKICAL SOUVENIK OF MEXICO. 



presidency and thereafter he voted the democrat ic 
f ickct. He «iis a stiUUicU supixirter of temju'rance. 
His death occurred May 2(!, 188!), his Avife surviv" 
ing liim two years. They had five children, Har- 
riet F. Drifigs of Decorah, la., (deceased), Lucy 
O. Calkins of Erie, Pa.. Ellen .f. Joyce of Nortli 
Syracuse, N. Y., Lydia X. DeLimcey of Bing- 
haniloii, N. Y., and Charles 1). (deceased). Mr. 
Hut<^liinson hpeut the last fifteen years of his life 
witli his (laughter, Mrs. Joyce in the town of 
Cicero. Oroudaga Co. 




Umniwcil Cut. 



lliiN. WILMS i;. llll.VI'nN. 



Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer, in coiiiniaml 
of an .\raerican force o]iei-ating against the Britisli 
around Sackets llarlxir, caily in .August, I.Slii. 
si>ent oue night at the nioutli of Salmon river. 
His troops were ahoard vessels hound up the lake. 
The weather was threatening and tlie (ieneral ac- 
conipabied l)y his olliceis went nsliore kite at 
nijjht. They found no conveniences (■\ce])t some 
teni|)orary ovens which had lieen erected and in 
oue of whicli .lolin Lovett, (ien. Van Ken.ssclaei's 
secretary slept timt niglit. Lovctt aft<'rwards 
founded I'erryshurgh on Lake Erie and wa-s a 
nuinl)er of ('ongress. Tlic caiitaiu of tlie guard 
on duty at that time was lleuhen Tower who 
afterwards lived at SangerKeld, Oneida Co., X. Y. 



Hon. Willis E. Heaton was liom in the town 
of Cicero, Onondaga Co., X. Y., Sept. 1.5, 18(!], 
and is the son of Dr. Charles E. Heaton and 
Sarah Gates Heaton now living in Baldwinsville, 
X. Y. His boyhood days were spent in Mexico 
where he wa< educated in district school Xo. it 
and in Mexico academy from which latter institu- 
tion he was graduated in 1H7H. He continued his 
studies in .Madison (now Colegate) Uuiversily and 
.\ll)any Law School. Before entering the univer- 
sity he spent a year in the office of the Mexico 
Independent under that vete- 
ran newspaper man, Henry 
Humphries. .-Vfter returning 
from the university he began 
the study of law witli French 
iV Stone, a firm widely known 
in those days. After a short 
time he was appointed by Hon 
T. W. Skinner clerk to the sur- 
rogate's court of Oswego 
county, which office he tilled 
until he entered Albany Law 
School. Mr. Heaton was ad- 
mitted to the bar at .\lbany in 
January, 1S8.'^ and in the .spring 
of that year located at Hoosick 
Falls, X. Y., where he has siuce 
resided practicing his profes- 
sion with marked success. In 
18118 Mr. Heaton was n<iminated 
for sui)ervisor of the town of 
Hoosick by the repubhcan jiarty 
at a time when an etl'ort was be- 
ing made to purify town jioli- 
lics. He was elected and gave 
such general .satisfaction tliat 
he wa-s continued in otlice for 
four years and was eK'cted 
chairman of the Board for three 
successive terms. 

In 11101 Mr. Heaton was 
ek'cted s'lrrogate of Reii.s.sclaer 
county by a ])lurality of about 
7,01)0. the largest ever given 
a county candidate in that 
county. The office of surrogate 
in a county like Henssclai r con- 
taining the city of Troy ami a 
po])ulaiion of over l'_'(),000 is a 
most im])ortant office, but .Judge 
Heaton has fully met tlie ex- 
liectations of his friends and 
liis administration is giving 
complete satisfaction to tlie 
jieople of the county. 
Heaton is a tru.stce of the Methodist 
l'",pisco|)al eliurcli at Hoosick Falls, a director of 
the Fiilelity ( ias Light Co., a man.iger of tlie 
Hoo.sac Chill and a member of the \(ical society, 
tlie Clioral Cluli and the I'afraets Dael Club "of 
Troy. He has been .in occasional contributor of 
iiotli verse and prose ti> various papers and maga- 
zines and IS in frccpienl demand as a s|ieaker 
u|ioii public occasions. 

first Court of Common Pleas, L'ud jury dist- 
rict Oswego county, was held at the school liou.se 
iu the village of I'ulaski. Harnett Mooney was pre- 
siding judge a.ssisted by .fudges Huguninaiid Dun- 
lap, .lames E. Wright, .Iose]ih I'vnchon Ko.s.seter, 
Thomas C. Chittenden, Heiijaaiin Wright and l>aii- 
ii'l Wardwell wire admitted to luactice law. 



.lud^j 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOU\'EXIK OF MEXICO. 



51 



Original Names in Oswego County. — 

Caiigh-ile-nov, village — [Iroquois], Eel laying 
down; vasf numbers of fish a'e said to have been 
caught here by the Indians who had a village at 
this plaee. 

15rewerton (Oneida outlet) — Oh sa-hau-ny-tah 
fOnon.], Here the waters run from the lake. Se- 
ugh-kah [Oneida], Lake pours out. 

Deer Creek — fiah-teh nah [Iroc]. ], Small stream 
in the rushes; it flows through njar.-hes. 

(irindstone Creek — He-haw ha-kee |Iroq.], 
Where there are nuts 

Little Salmon River — Kah-na-ta [Onou. ], Place 
to find bark. Che-go-hage [Oneida], Large bark 
ready to be picked up. . 

Lake near Fulton — Ne-at-a-waut-ha [Irorj.], 
Lake hiding from the river. Fi>U lake [Earlv 
Settlers]. 

Mexico Bay — Teh-uoha hah [Iroq.], Wide 
waters in the land. 

N'ew Haven Creek — Kah-dah-l>o-gah [Ii'oq.], 
Place of low wet ground. 

Oneida Liike — Sa ugh ka |()nou.]. Striped 
waters (from the ^lanlius and Pomi)ey hills 



which are the Iroquois. Lac St. Francis f Cham- 
plain's map, 1(J32.] Cadaraqui [Mohawks and 
early English. ] 

Phoenix — Kahne-wo-nah [Tnxi. ], Place of the 
Tall Pines. 

Phcenix, Indian Fishing Village — (^ui-e-Hook- 
gah [Iroq.]. Sujjply with fish. 

Salmon River— Heh-hah-wa-gah [Onon.], Where 
swim the sweet (delicious) fish. Ka-hi-agh-haghe 
[Oneidas], Plenty to eat of fish. La Famine 
[Fr. Jes. ], Where Gov. Barre's troojis famished. 

Sandy Creek — He-kah-na-go-gah [Irocj. |, Where 
there is much sand. Riviere de la Planche [Fr. 
Jes. J 

Scriba's Creek — Gah-teh-nah [Iroq. |, Falling 
creek. Hegh-kanagh-hagh | Oneida], Creek danc- 
ing in the sun. Bruce creek [Early Settlers]. 

Three River Points — Te-u-nug-hu-ka [Iroq.], 
WTiere all of the rivers meet. 

The First Public School. — .\t a si^eeial to.in 
meeting held at the house of Calvin Tifl'.uiy, June 
13. l.Sl:i. in compliance with the act for the estab- 




llil.stcd, 1'1j(>i,>. I'KL.M.VHY DKl'.VUr.MK.XT PUE.'^Ii VTEUI .\ .\ SC.ND.VV .-^CUDnl.. 

1. Miss AIi<-e Hanh'. ■-'. Ethel riilliTis. "l. Lillie Hostdi-d. +. Dearborn Harfi\-,.5, Gurlev Davis. (I, Mildred .Sampson, 
T. Miss Vesia H. Greerie. !l, (ie^ rjie Woiidrnff. il. Lyle Edwardii, U), Koliert Greenleaf, 11, Carl Sherman, 1-', Miss Car- 
rie A. Peek. Vt. Dorris U'i.se. 14, Daisv Hosford, l.i, George Huntley, IH, Marv Radway, IT, Janet Tavlor, 18. Willard 
Taylor, lii. Vena (iar.lner, 2U, Gay Osborn, 21, Vera Gardner, 22, Chas. Parnielee, 2:i, Ruth MeClyman, 24, Ira Hos- 
lortl, 2.*), Ava Cunniit^ham. 

lishment of common schools, Stutely Palmer, 
Peter Pratt and Jonathan Wing were chosen com- 
missioners of common schools in said town and 
Timothy Norton, Dennison Palmer, Elijah Everts, 
William I). Wightman, Joseph BaDey and Ellas 
Brewster inspectors of said schools It was voted 
to allow the school commissioners 75 cents jier 
day tor their- services and to raise by tax on said 
town for the use of said school sixty dollars. The 
inspectors were Timothy Xoitou, Dennis Palmer, 
Elijah Everts, W. D. Wightman, .toseph Bailey, 
Elias Brewster. The tax was .SliO, 

The first school house was a log structure 
erected near the site formerly occuped by the East 
Presbytt rian church. .Tohu Howard was the first 
teacher of the High school, assisted by Laura Fish 
in the other department. The original district 
was No. 5, which was increased in size and then 
divided by Black creek, the west side being re- 
tamed as Xo. 5 and the east side as No. H. 



w hen the sun is right the surface of the lake ap- 
pears striped bine and white). Lac Techtroguen 
des Onneiouts [Fr. Jes.], On-ha do-ho-go [Oneida] 
Teshiroque [Mohawk and Dutch]. 

Oswego (the port) — Osh-wa-kee [Iroq.], See 
everywhere see nothing. Ochougen [Fr. Jes.]. 

Oswego Fails — Kah-heh-sa-hegh [Iroq.], Place 
of the falls. 

Oswego River — Swa geli [Iroq.], Flowing out 
of two rivers. Riviere de la Oiinontogues [Fr. 
Jes.], River of the Ouondagas, leading to that 
nation. 

Oswego Falls Indian Village — Kag-ne-wag roge 
[Iro(i.]. 

Peter Scott Swauq) — Ka-uugh-wa-ka ]Onin.], 
Where ral)bits run. 

Ontirio Lake — En-tou-uo-ho-rons [Huron], 
Big water of the Hurons. Ska-nau-da-reh [Iroq J, 
Beautiful lake. Lac Ontario on des Iroquois 
[Fr. Jes.] Lake of the (Jutwio over of (on toj 



:>■! 



'GIUP'.S" HISTOKICAL SOUVEKIU OF MEXICO. 




lliiniiwi'il Photo. IIEV. M. I). SILL. 

The Methodist Church. — About the year 
ISOS or ISO!) a ycmng Metlioilist iireacher by tbe 
name of .Tonathaii Huesti.s came here ou horse- 
back with his Siuldlebags containing his wardrobe, 
Bible and hymn book, and preached the lirst 
Methodist S(>rmon in the town of Me.xico at the 
lioiiie of Leonard Ames. The fir.st class was or- 
ganized in the Ames home and consisted of five 
members, namely: Mrs. L. Ames, Mrs. Place, 
Mrs. Calkins, Mrs. Clieesl)ro and W. .\rmstrong 
who was appointed cliuss leader. The first quiir- 
terly meeting and love feast were held in ^Ii-. 
Ames's house ^^ here the sacrament was adminis- 
tered to eight commimicant.s. The stand upon 
which the elements were ])laced is now in the 
j)ossesaion of the church, preserved as a memorial 
of the infant days of ^Methodism in Mexico. The 
second i>aHtor was the Hev. \. Howley, from Bal- 
timore. In bslo the (ienesee conference was or- 
ganized and the Mexic^i 
circuit extended from 
Kedfield and Camden to 
the Oswego river. 

In 1811 Rev. Ira Fair- 
banks was a])pointed to 
the Mexico circuit. He 
received $25 that year 
ou his .salary, and he sa.vs 
he left the circuit out of 
debt. After Rev. Fair 
banks, to the year 1.S2I). 
the following persons 
were piustors of thi> 
church, the exact order 
in which thev came not 
being known: [saac I'lif 
fer 'iruiiian (iillett. Na- 
thaniel Header, Truman 
Bishop, Rul)en Farle.v, 
.lo.sepli Willis and Tru 
man Dixon. 

The house of Mr.Ames 
<-ontiiiued to be the 



preaching place until 1820 when a commodious 
school houK', two stories high and built of brick, 
was erected ou the gi'ound where tbe present 
academy stands which was then occupied for re- 
ligious services aKeruately by the C'ongregation- 
alists and Methodists. 

In 1H21 Jlexico was placed ia the Oswego cir- 
cuit Black River district, with Ch.andl.v Lambert, 
])ica(her in charge In ]S22 .lames 1'. .\vles\vorth 
w.is the jircacher of Oswego circuit; in 1.S23 .1. P. 
Aylcswortli and Orrcn Foot; IX'24 Truman Dixon; 
1S2.'') Benjamin Davton and Enoch Barnes; 1H27 
Charles Northrui)': ISHS Klisha Wheeler; ISiiO 
Samuel Bilibins 

In 1.S31 this had leconie Mexico circuit with 
Charles Xorthru]) ])reacher, followed in ISlWaud 
'o4 by Anson Tiiller and .rosei)h Cross. 

It is probable that the Mexico Methodist 
E|>isco|'al church was legall.v organized in 1H33 
and a brick church was built. At a meeting of 
the trustees, FeVi. 11. 1H:^4. there weie jiresent 
Simon TuUer Leonard Ame.s, Orin Whitney. Dan- 
iel Austin, Eldad Smith. Reuben Halli<lay, Stan- 
ton Kenyon and O. C. Whitmy. .\fterwards the 
name of F. Evarts was a<lded. In l.s;i.") ^Mexico 
was made a station and .lesse Pentitld appointed 
preacher. In 1S37 .1. Everdel was pastor. Scpiire 
Chas<' who went as a missionary to .\frica, was 
supply part of ISliS, followed by Joseph Kilpat- 
ric who served the rest of the year, and i;i 1839 
and '411 by B. Holmes. 

On .Tune 20, 1S40, the ground was broken for 
the cellar for the tir.st parsonage, which was locat- 
ed on Main street. In 1841 Rowland Soule was 
stationed here, followed in 1842 bv B. Holmes, 
returned for his third vear; lS4:!-'4' X. R. Peck, 
1 84r.-'t;. Tames Sawyer, lS47-'8(iardner Baker, 1849- 
'.")() Lewis Whitcomb and 18.")l-'2 Ebenezer .\ruold. 
During Mr. .\rnold's pastimde. in IS.")], the brick 
church was burned and the site sold, and in 18,52 
the present church editice was l)iiilt. Since then 
the following were past(U-s: l,S.">;i-'4 .\lmond 
Chapin, 18.").")-'() Sa-nnel Crosier, 18.>7 Hiram 
ShejiarJ, 1858 .1. T. Alien, 18.")9 William .Tones, 
ISliO-'l O. M. Legate, 18(i2 .T. T. Alden. 18()3 W. 
S. Titus, l.S(;4-fi. M. 1). Kinnev, 18(i7-'8 Andrew 
Roe, 18(;9-'71 William R. Cobl{ 1872 B. F. Bar- 
ker, 187:!-'4 .1. T. Hewitt, lS75-'(i S. P. (irav. 




lliinwiik. I'hii 



nil'; MK'i'iiniiisT I'.risci ii'A I. > iir in ii. 



•GEIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



m 



1877-'9 W. F. Hempnway, ISSI-'a O. P. Lyford, 
1883'5 C. H. Gnile, 1886-7 W. R. Cobb, 1888-'90 
C. E. Dorr, 1891-'8 J. C. Darling, 1894-'5 H. W. 
Beuut'tt, 1S9(;'99 J. H. Myers; 1900 A. C. Dan 
forth and 1901 M. D. Sill, the present piustor. 

In 1884 new memorial windows were placed in 
the church in memory of the founders of Method- 
ism in Mexico. The bell now hanging in the 
tower, costing .§1,000, was purcha.sed by subscrip- 
tion and niouei raised by concerts conducted by 
Lewis Miller. The organ costingSl.200 was jnir- 
chased with the proceeds r.iised by the M. E. 
Choi-al Union under the leadership of Lewis Mil- 
ler. The present parsonage was the generous gift 
to the church V)y the late Dr. Harriet Kundell. 

The Northern Xew York conference has been 
entertained bv Mexico church three times: In 
1845 Bislio]) "Hedding, IHT.'J Bishoj) Scott, 1901 
BisliOi> Fowler presiding. 

The Methodist Epi.scopal church of Me-vico h;i.s 
been especially blessed in sending forth so many 
of her young men to jjreach the gosi:)el. .\mong 



Sandy Creek 1851, '55; Edward S. Keed, Albion 
1853; Samuel A. Comstock, Albion 1853; Ezra 
(ireen, Palermo 1854; '5(i; John Vandenburgh, 
Constantia 18,54; Edson Wilder, Sandy Creek 1855; 
Lewis F. Devendorf, Hastings 1857; JIarcus Pat- 
terson, West Monroe 1857; Benjamin N. Hinmau, 
Hannibal 1858; '60-'2; Nelson .7. Williams, Boyl- 
ston 1858; Caleb L. Cai-r, Wdliamstown 1859-"(;0; 
Hiram M. Steven.s, Sandy Creek 1859; \lvin Rich- 
ardson. Mexico 1864; Fowler H. Berry, Amboy 
]S(i4; .\lvin Osborn, Oswego 18()5; Mars Xearing, 
Hastings 18fi5; Henry M. Barrett, Hannibal ]8(>(;; 
.John ShepiU'd, .\lbion 186(;; William Congdou, 
Scriba 1867; '73; Marcus Patterson, West Monroe 
1867; Levi Brackett, Hannibsd 18f)8; Jesse W. 
Cross, Orwell 1868; R. George Bassett, Volney 
1869-70; Andrews. Coey, Redfleld 1869 '70; '75; 
.lames G. C'aldwel!, West Monroe 1871 ;.lo5eph W. 
Phillips, West Monroe 1871; .\brahani David, 
Parish 1872; Edmund Potter, Parish 1S72; '74; '77; 
Noel \. Gartlner, Ambov 1873; William R. Path, 




)liiest(.d, Photo PRIM.VKY DEPAKT.MENT, METHODIST EPISCOP.\L SUNDAY SCHOOL. 

1, Mrs. M. D. Sill Supcrteniient; 2, Gii'nn Lmvi'll. 3. Geralrt Stewart. 4, Elliot Pettinfrill..5, Cora Muni'Dc. li, Marion 
liiriv. 7. Mai' House. S. Earl Parker. 9, MlTiiiie Heii.ier^on, III, Lloyd Lowell, 11. .Myrtis Smith, 13, Helen Hoose, V\ 
Ha/.i'l i:mss, H. Nina Manwnrreu. 15, Hovt Hnllistir, Hi, Carl Shumway. IV, Holland Smith, Is, Ralph Sluimwav, in, 
l(al|ili SMUiiison. :.'n, liurton M, Sill, 21, Matliscni llollister. ±.', .\melia Miinsou. 'ii. Harry Gill. 34, Fannie Bnok, 3."i, 
Millieenl llass, 2(1 Lnvell Cook, 27, Mildred KellosJK-. 2S. Knth Sampson, 2!i, Gnile Hi'llister. :!li, Mav Sampson, :ll. Eva 
Halsev. :!;. Maiv Suiitli. :i:i. Harold Cobb, :u. Dunaj.l Hnose. :>:.,(;reia Coe, 36. Vernetta llnrdiek, :i7, Walter linrdiek, ;is, 
Hcniv SteriilniV)^, :;'.!, .lohn Monroe, 4U. Verna Wilder, 41. Ki-ed (de, 42, Phillis Chadwiek, 4:i, Lloyd Uenny, 44, Giles 
Denny, 4.'), Harry Fiih. 4i), Glad.vs Hollister, 47, Helen Chadwiek. 



them are the following; Albert D, Peck, Reuben 
Holiday and B, R. Parson i local preachers; W. 
H. Calkins, Isaac Turner, Henry Lamb, Denni.s 
Parker, Sardiiis Kenyon, David Ferguson, Levi 
Ferguson, M.itthew Parkhur.st, Othniel Holmes, 
W. F, Purington, Jesse Rathbun, (ieorge P. 
Mains, Fayette Severance, Frank Severauc^e. 
Cyrus Sever.ance, Char'es H. Walton, Herbert L. 
Campbell, .\mos Nicker.-on, George Wood, Reu- 
ben Sherman and Arthur Ber-y. 

Justices of Sessions.— -John M, Casey, Os- 
wego 1848; T,. Thayer. Parish 1818-50; '61-'3; Nor- 
man Rowe, New Haven 1849; '.56; Robert Simpson, 
Scriba 1850; ■(«;. John Wart, Boylston 1851; '52; 
John B. Higgius, Mexico 1851; 5lason Salisbury, 



Williamstown 1874; F. W. Squires, North \'oluey 
1875; Henry L. Cole, Mexico 1876; Cornelius 
Edick, Parish 1876; Isaa'3 R, Parkhurst. Scriba 

1877. 

Macomb's Purchase, the largest grant of 
laud the state ever made embmced 3,693,7.55 acres 
in Franklin, St, Lawrence, .Tefl'erson, Lewis, 
Herkimer and the northern part of Oswego couLt- 
ies It was patented to Daniel McCormick and 
.Alexander Macomb in 1791-'8, It was afterwards 
sub-divided into several purchases uicludiug that 
known as the Boylston tract and Macomb's pur- 
chase, Macomb's patent was a tract of 1,920,000 
acres taken from the above purchase Jan. 10, 1792. 



54 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Ilu.slr.i. I'll,.!,,. 

I, II, t, IAN LONC; 
Flnrt'iico Avery, 

FldlL-llCl 



KicLlimd 1817-'19; David S. Bates, Constan- 

tiii 1H-2I)-'1; Jiiines Bill, Oswego IS-JO-'l; 
.Toliii Heeber. Hichliind lcS20-'l; tSaiuuel 
I'uniliiiiii. Hatiiiiliiil 1H2I)-'1: .Toliu S.Davis, 
liic-li'aiKl 1<H21-'J; Oliver Bunlick. Volney 
lS2l-ii: Chester Havden, Bidiland 1S2'2 ':i; 
.Tdsqili Kastoii, Volney IS-J'i-'.ill; HastiijRs 
('nitiss. Hasting'', l.S23-':l; SiiiHUi Mea- 
cliaiii. i;ii-hla'Ml l.S2S-'.ll: Avery skinner, 
:\le\u-<> I.SiS-':il: '.Vj-'H; Jolin" UivnuKls. 
Orwell 1S2".(-'.U; Lovewell Johnson,' Paler- 
niii ls:H'J-'(i: Hainnel Freeman, \Vi liamstowu 
].s:W-'-12: Hir 111 Huhl.ell, I'ulaski I,s3r,-M: 
Knneh Hil.hard, \01nev l.s:i7-'Ki: Elias 
Brewster, Mexieo l,S3i)-'43: Samuel B. Lud- 
low, Oswego 1840'"); Thomas S. Meaehani, 
Sandy Creek ISU-T): Huntiugton Fitch, 
Hastinf<s 1S43'7; Julian Carter, (Vinstantia 
ls44-'7; Orla H. Whitney, Mexico lS4(i-'7: 
John M. Watson, Pulaski l.s4i;-7. 



irHEKT-S t 1,A>: 



M. 



E. flNUAV seH< 
Killtli Muiison, Chi-istinc .letTc 

Lillian Lon^i'strect, 
■ Henderson, lllniielu; Aver.v 

Six Nations — Origin of Their Race: — Bev. 
;\Ir. ryrJ.ius resident among the Six Nations in 
I74r! quotes the Mohawk chief, Squarady, \iz: 
They dw. It in the earth w here no sun shijne. 
Though they followed hunting they ate mice which 
they caught with their own hands, Ganawaghha 
having found a hole went out and found a deer. 
In consequence of the meet tasting good their 
mother concluded it lie.st for them all to go out 
which they did, except the groundhog. They 
con.sider the earth as their uuiver-al mother. They 
believe they were created within its lio.som where 
for a long time they had their aliode before they 
came to live on its surface', They say the grand 
and good spii it had prepared all things for their 
reception but like an infant in the womb of the 
natural mother their first stiige of existence was 
wisely ordained to be within the earth. 

Justices ot the Peace — 1798— Isaac Alden, 
Williamstown; J W. Bloomfleld, Kotterdani; 
Benjamin Wright, Veia Cruz; Joseph Strickland, 
Kcdtield: Samuel Boyce, Camden; aiipointed by 
the council of appointment of Herkimer countv. 
I8.H)— Keiibeii lianiilt(m, Mexico. LS()4— 
l^benezer Wri;^hl, Voluey. 1805 — Beulien 
Hamilton and Saui\iel Tiffany, Mexico; 
William J5u ke, Scriba. 180(i — William 
Cole, Mexico; Thomas Nutting, Parish. 
1807— David Williams, Mexico; David 
l'",ast(in. New llav.n. ]80,S B<'uliiii Hum 
ikon, William Burke, John Nutting. IslO 
-Joseph Mailev, New Hav«n; Uver liurn- 
ham, Me.\ico. 'l81 1- D.ivuD\ illia'ms David 
Elision, Peter Pratt, Mexico. lHl-> — Jon.i- 
than Wing, Jo>epli Bailev, New Haven. 
181;i— Benj.imin Wright, Peter Pratt. 1814 
— David W inx 181.") -Solomon I'.varts, 
Mexico; Paul .Mien. Parish. 

Associate Justices, Common Pleius, 
Prior to 1847 — Peter D. llugunin, Oswego 
181(;-''JI); F.dniund Hawks, Oswego Town 
181l)-'18; Daniel Hawks, jr.. Hannibal bSKi- 
'17; Smith Dunia]), Samly Creek 181i;.'l!); 
Henry Williams, Williamstown ]81()-'2('); 
David ICaston, New Haven, 181t).'17; ( )n-is 
Hart, New Haven 1817-'20; WilUoin Hiile, 



»)1„ 



Description of Oswego, by the French, 
]7.')li. — Fort Ontario is i-ituate at the right 
(eabt) of the liver in the middle of a very 
high plateau. It consists of a npiare of 30 toises 
(180 feet) aside, the faces of whicli, broken in the 
center, are flanked by a redan pla<'ed at the point 
of the break. It is eoustructed of pickets 18 inches 
ill diameter, smooth on both sides, very well join- 
ed the one to the other, and rising 8 and il feet 
from the ground. The ditch that enciirles the 
fort is 18 feet wide by 8 feet dee)). The excavated 
earth had been th'owu up en glacis on the coun- 
terscarp with a very steep slope over the berm 
(covered way). Loo)) holes and embrasures are 
formed in the pickets on a level with the earth 
thrown up on the berm, and ascattblding of car- 
jienters' work extends all around .so as to tire from 
above. It has 8 guns and 4 mort O's with double 
grenades. The old fort Clioueg. n, situate on the 
left (West) bank of the river, consists of a house 
with galleries with loop holes on the ground floor 
and principal story, the walls of which are three 
feet thick and encomiiassed at distance of three 
toises ( IS feeti by another wall 4 feet thick and 10 
f. ethigh, loo|)holed and tlanked by two large, 
s(|uare towers. It has liKewise a trench, encircling 
on the land ^i le of the fort, where the t nemy 




lIlM ^l.'.l, I'liulil. 

M.W VIKCII/SCI.AS.S M. K. SINOAV SCllOOl,. 
Top Hiiw-ir.il'l ti> ri5rlit).l<'nnleItiK-k,Kllicl Mi'liter, lle.s.sie 
Trvon. MIcMIc Itciw— (iirtci- Wtltnott, .Miss Ma.v VirifH. Aliec 
ralklns. Lower Row- MIWicil Siintli, Riilli Hoii?i'. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOIH^ENIR OF JIEXICO. 




liorrowud Plioto, 



1. MILLlilt. 



[English] had placed 18 pieces of cannon and 15 
mortars and howitzers. Fort Geoi'ge is situ- 
ated :'.()0 loises (181)0 feet) lieyond [west of] 
that of Chonegen on a hill that commanded it. It 
is of pickets and badly enough entrenched with 
earth ou tw-o sides. 

Tryon was the tenth county instituted in the 
province of New York and was the first municipal 
organization in which Mesico was included. The 
colonial act of March '22, 1772, erected out of the 
lands of the Iro(iuois this county, which, having 
no definitely assigned boundaries except that on 
the east, was declared to reach to the lakes on the 
west and north, and the Pennsylvania line on the 
south. The eastern boundary line of the present 
small county of Montgomery wiisthe eastern limit 
of Try(Ui county. On Alarch 8, 1773, the county 
Wius divided into ivnr districts: Palatine, north of 
the Mohawk and Canajoharie on the south — the 
two eastern districts, west of which came German 
Flatts on the south and Kingslaud on the north. 
It was out of Kmgsland 
that Mexico was erected. 

First Town Officers 

appointed by the justices 
of Herkimer county for 
Mexico (then included 
in that county) in 1792, 
viz: John Meyer of Rot- 
terdam, supervisor and 
justice of peace; Olive 
Stevens of Fort Brewer- 
ton, town clerk; Amos 
Matthews, Solomon War- 
ing and Luke Mason of 
Rotterdam, assessors: 
Amos Matthews and Sol- 
omon Waring, overseers 
of the poor; Solomon 
Waring, collector; Elijah 
Cai-ter, constable. Huested. Photo. 



Clayton I. Miller, special surrogate of Oswego 
county, was elected to that office iu lilOl in recog- 
nition of his ability to perform the duties iucuiu- 
bent therein. Among the younger members of 
the republican party he has figured as one of tlie 
iiiosl active, his services both at caucus and in 
cimvention as a speaker and worker being in de- 
mand iu all important local camjiaigns. He was 
burn in the town of Mf xico, June llj, ISiJS, and 
rci-civrd his early education iu the di-trict .schools 
;ind the Mexico ac demy, giMduatiug from the 
liittcr institution iu 1889. He taught .school a 
nuinber of terms and read law with C. C. Brown 
in Mexico and William A. Poucher in Oswego. 
In 189:^ he was gradmited in the law department 
(if Cornell University and on Sept.. 15 of tlie .same 
year was admitted to the bar. A month later he 
opened his office in thi-i village where his prac- 
tice has grown to a flattering extent, until at. the 
present time he has a wide circle of client.s and 
is carrying on a prosperous Inisiness. Mr. Miller 
has built up a jjrosperous fire insurance businei-.s, 
in whicli he writes policies on both village and 
tarm propertv in the most reliable conijjanies, 
:\Ir. :\mier on Apiil 18, 1900, married Alice M. 
Bard of Mexico and they occupy a pretty house 
eligibly situated on Main street. Mr. Miller is a 
member of Mexico Lodge, F. k A. M., Xo. 130, 
and is a Royal Arch Mason in Chapter Xo. 135. 
He has served as tnistee of the village and has 
taken considerable interest iu local affaii's, being 
an active supporter of all local imjjrovements and 
always ready to contribute to advance the inter- 
ests of Mexico. 

Salt Road. — The old road called "the salt 
road," along which before the day of railroads an 
immense traffic was carried on between Water- 
town and the northern counties of the state and 
Salt Point or Salina (now Syracuse) passed 
through Union Square and Colosse. It was no 
unusual sight, the jiroce«sion of hundreds of 
teams of farmers drawing loads of salt moving 
north on this highway with the winter supply for 
the northern country. 

First School in Town was taught by Sanford 
Douglass at Colosse in bsOfi. The fir.st school in 
the village w;is taught in Sliuabel .Alfred's b:irn by 
Harriet Kaston in 1811. 




C. I. MILLER'S RESIDENCE.": ft ^Z 



K^aa 



5() 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Ilorr«n\riI I'lmtos 



.IKDEDI.Ml IKMiSi;. 

MAIiV A. lino 



Jedediah Hoose WHS lioru in the town nf I'ar- 
ish, X. Y., Oft. 10, IKV.), beiufi tlie .SfC(inil son of 
.\l)mni Hoose, ;i prominent fiiruior. With his 
brother, James H. Hoose, he was a stndeut at 
Mexico Academy, l)nt because of poor health, was 
unable to finisli a eoinvse there. En December, 
1K()1, he maMieil Marv .\. Perriue of Hastings, 
N. Y., a gracbiate of Whitestowu Seminary. \ 
few years later they niove<l to Mexico where three 
cliildren were born, Frank L., who Wiis later as- 
sociated with his father in busines.s, Charles 
Kylcs, who died at the 
n{?e of seven years and 
Lena L.. a graduate of 
Syracuse Univers.ty. 

Here Mr. Hoose en- 
gmed in thegrocei-y busi- 
ness with H. ^V. Loomis 
and later witli Ira C!obb, 
as ])artiiera. Soon he 
ga e most of his time to 
the I rodnce Imsiness in 
whic'i he continued until 
his dcidh. He bought 
butter and cheese exteu 
sively for the eastern 
market.s, during njany 
.sea.s(ins making weekly 
tri])s lo Ho.ston, New 
York and riiila(lelj)liia. 
He was one of the largest 
buyer.s of cheese in ( )sn-e- 
go county, .\fter a long 
period of poor health, 
tliough contined lo his 
home but a few wiM'ks, 
he died Xov. M, I'.IOI). Mr. 
Hoose was a man of en- 
ergy, interested in the 
welfare of the tf)wn, de- 
voted to his family and 
home. He wius a mem- 
ber of the Freowill Uaji- iinistcil, l"ii> 



tist church but as there was none in Mex- 
ico, attended the Methodist and gave libe- 
rally t<i its .snpjiort. Through :)"> years of 
business life he enjoyed the uuiver.sal con- 
fidence of all men with whopi he dealt. 
His word was as good as his l»ind. In 
February. l.SS,S, his son Frank L.. mariied 
Mary H. Miller, youngest dMUghter of 
licwis MilU'r. Tliev have three children, 
Helen H., Donald -J." and Kenneth M. 

E. J. Parmelee, who conducts the only 
exclusive tire insurance agency in this vil- 
lage, which is a notable success, has made 
the insurance hues a study and is regarded 
as one of the best adjusters of losses in this 
locality. He writes both plate glass and 
li'e, as wfll as fire insurance, though the 
latter is his s)ieci»lity, and represents alto- 
gether the old line companies, including 
one liability comi)aDy. His "tenitory" 
takes in a wide circle inclusive of the town 
of Mexico and adjacent town.s. Mr. Par- 
melee was born at Colosse Apr. 8, ISGO. 
Charles Parmelee, his father, of New Eng- 
land ancestry whose early home was in Mad- 
ison county, N. Y'., was born Feb. lU, 18'J8. 
He married Apr. (5, 1847, a daughter of Fuller 
Richardson one of the early settlers of Mexico a 
stone cutter by trade who was prominent for large 
public work in which he engaged, ill's. Charles 
Parmelee was born Aug. 27, 1827. She is now 
living at Union Square, this county. Her husband 
died :\rarch 29, 18,SS. They had five children, of 
whom there are now living Mrs. .Jennie Hartson 
of Union Square, Charles D. Parmelee now in 
San Francisco, Vol , and E. .T. Parmelee. The 
others were .\lice I., born Oct. ."), 1S.">0 and died 




I. i'.\i{Mi^i.i'!rs i\-;r;:.\Ni'K ori'iiK. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



57 




The "new road" opened up to the lalie in the 
summer of 1802, invited them to proceed through 
:i stretch of 25 miles of heav^i' timber, where they 
hiul the whole of tlie eastern end of Lake Ontario 
at their disposal — the hind of i)roniise. There a 
'•manua" in the wilderness fed them merely l>y 
^fathering it during the s ason — berries, currants, 
nuts. A writer who visited that se tion in 1S()2 
writes that "there were found growing wild in 
great plenty hops, grapes, cranberries, plums, 
strawberries, gooseberries, blackberr'es raspbcr- 
liis, currants, plantain, sarsaparilla, English par- 
sley, French sorrel, ])eppermint, comniiin mint, 
catnip, thorn a))ples, ludiEU corn, potatoes, oats 
and tlax. Peas, beans and all kinds of produc- 
tiim grmv rank.'' 



limiowid I'lu.Io. 

WKHSTKU M. KICH.\KUS().N, Pustinastcv. 

Nov. 5, 1S97, and Grace M., born Sept. 2(5, 1S70 
and dieU March 15, 1885. Mr. E. J. Parmeiee 
attended the Colosse school and the Mexico 
academy and was first engaged in business in 
Madison county. For three years he conducted 
a book store in this village. On Jan. 1, 1885, he 
started his present business with A. G. Stow'ell, 
the partnership continuing six years. Then Mr. 
Parmeiee was in Chicago awhile. On Jan. 1, ISiU, 
he resumed insurance in this village, continuing 
it ever since. He is a member of the ^lasonic 
order. Bv his marriage to Mary Tourot, J\ine 18, 
1881, there are two children Grace M., born Dec. 
0, 1890, and Charles T., born Nov. 4, 1897. 

Pioneers in Oswegro County in 1800 d'd not 
necessarily sutler from lack of sustenance. 
The road was long and iirduous but led into 
a laud of jilenty, abundant in wild beiTies 
and fruits. The traders and settlers then 
came in from the .south. Three Rivers l)eing 
the only gateway whether their course was 
by water or land. Passing through Oneida 
Lake by craft with sail or drawn by horses, 
and down the Oneida river to Three River 
Point, there they found batteaux lieing 
freighted to descend to Lake Ontario or 
ascend the Seneca river to the great west 
beyond that lake. In traveling by lan<l 
they followed a mere track skirting the 
water route. 

Two years later a rough road was oi)eued 
from Camden to Redfield and then on to 
Lake Ontario into the new town of Mexico. 
Then the settlers began to come in from the 
east, tramping along beside the ox teams 
which they u.sually employed to In-ing along 
such household necessaries and implements 
as could not be dispensed with. Leaving 
Fort Stanwix for the north they plunged 
into tlie woods and after 18 miles journey- 
ing reached the little hamlet of Camden. 
There thty entered a mere path throngh the 
woods and traveling nine miles without see- 
ing any habitation crossed the Salmon river 
at Redfield, a small collection of huts, 
whore they ware oiicred land at $'^ an aci-e. 



Bright Sayings.— Mrs. Kundell saw a young 
woman who was nearly six feet tall, and broatl ac- 
cordiugly. ' What a waste of nniterial," .she ob- 
served. 

K. and I), were moving. The wagon loads of 
goods were on the road and the owners were 
carrying oue a clock and the other a guitar. 
"ThHts right", said Sardius Barnes as he met 
them, "tune and time go well together." 

D. was a man who knew how to carry on busi- 
ness successfully, although his vocalnilary was 
peculiar. One "day he made the vemiirk, "there 
is so much composition now-days it is no objective 
to do business", which simply meant so much 
competition, no object to do business. 

The Salmon River Light House was erected 
in ISIH and fitted with a Xo. G lens. The old 
stone l)nilding with the tower in which was the 
light, is still standing, now owned and occupied 
by the profirietor of a summer hotel at that place. 
The light which was refitted with new lens in 1855 
was abandoned in 1858. It was a fixed light, 49 
feet above the water and was visible for 9 nautical 
miles. 




Hui 



A. W. 



aLLAG'E"'BOAUI> OF XKISXEES AXU OFFICEIIS. 
Dr. S. M. Bennett. C. E. Hare. 

George H. Wilson. Presiduut. 
Ric'.iarason, Clerk. Jerome Baker, Street Commissioner. 



58 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Di lite AS sociKTv, .\i. i:. ciiritcii. 

rijr'it) Mrs. AI%'in Kichai-dsim. Mi-s Klla Stcrnbur^r. Mi^^s Ki-iia 



Hin'sti'il. riioto. 

T(M' Kiiw- (Li-lt ti 
Hocist-, iMis. Anna Fish. Mis< Mnv Kanisry. Mi.Mk- |{. 
Luflla AuBliii. Miss Eva Sti'Vi-iis, Miss Maln'l Wajriici-. Miss 
— Mrs. .Ii-nnir Cass, Miss .Maiidi- Diitr.ui, Miss Miillii- Milli 
Kva Hi'iirlcrson. 

Largest Gun in the World was mauiifac- 
tnri'd :it tlic Watervliet arstmul auJ from it the 
first shot was lired at Saudy Hook, Jan. 17, 1903. 
The designers were Col. J. P. Farley, Maj. Smith 
and Maj. Birney of the United States Army. It 
is a curious co-iucideuce that CharU's ('hrii-tiansen 
of Troy, X. Y., the mechanic to whose skill the 
success of the work is due, died ou the day the 
gun was ti'sted, from paralysis of the hrain due to 
overwork in its construction. The gun costing 
.f200,001) is si.\teeu-inch ritiod, weighing l:!0 tons 
and carrying a maxinuni charge "f (ill) j)Ounds of 
smokeless powder, sends a jjrojectile weighing 
2,1;00 ])ounds 2,H()(i feet ))er second with a pres- 
sure of 38,000 pounds to the .square inch. \n air 
cushion chaiiiher at the lireech reduces the recoil 
to ili feet. The gun which is built for coast de- 
fence can lie tired to hit a vessel at the distance 



Mrs. .Mauilf 
Ella Stone, 
r, .Miss Alii. 



and liake 1." 



f f from five to seven 
miles ami has an extreme 
range of twenty miles. 

A July Delicacy. — 

Sea Foam Cake is made 
1 >y sifting one cuji of Hour 
with one teasponnful of 
cream of tarlar five times; 
also sift one and a half 
cups of grauulateil sugar 
twice. Then beat the 
sugar with the btateu 
yolks of four eggs until 
very light and creamy. 
Beat the whites of eleven 
eggs to a stilV, dry froth; 
add the yulks ami sugar 
to the \\ hites very care- 
fully, then add one tea- 
siMionful of vanilla and, 
last, the tlour. Mix 
thoroughly but gently 
and (piickly as ])ossible 
an<l turn into an uu- 
grea.sed angel's food tin 
minutes in a moderate oven. 



Viirci'. .M 
l,()wi'i" U<t\v 
Claik. Miss 



The First Road opened in Oswego county for 
the passage of English pioneers was cut through 
to Oswego in the summer of lT.)(i by Sir William 
•Tohnson for which in .luly of that year he had ob- 
tained the desired consent from the Onondagas. 
Up to that time there were only footpaths leading 
across between (Oneida and Ontario lakes and a 
bla/ed trail ftiUowing the Oneida and Oswego 
rivers along which ]iassage had been forced|by an 
occasional war party or expedition. .\s the only 
post then ojiened in this country was Oswego the 
road was made to follow the earlier or river route. 



The First Mail Route in Oswego county wa,s 
fstabli.shed between Salina and Oswego in 1807 
the year a postotlice Wii-s ojiened at the latter 
place. 




Iluestuil. I'll. .1(1. . IIHI.~I1A.\ l-'.M>i;.\\(lli. ilAI'l'ISr I III licll. 

Tdii 1{.)W— (1,1 It I.I Kiirhl) Mis.s iinuMC,.|i,i. Miss .i.is.|iliiii.' It >liinsiiii. Miss V.l.lii- II ik.-r. Miss Urac- llakir, Mrs. 
S. S. Itldwtll, Mrs. Siisutl .N.iri.m. .Mrs. II. my .MiiTiif.r. .Mi.l.lh- Kiw -("liarlLc Hiir.l, K..-V. S. S. Itlilwi-ll, Mrs. HiMliiTt 

Adums Miss Grace .liiliiislon. Dmiiel V. Wyunt. Miis .l.ihnst.iii. Miss ,liihni>t<>ii. A. H. .N.irt.ui. .Miss C.m- 

triide Jliird. Lower Uow— .Miss .liilia I'rlc-, ('harles I,oomls,. Master .Vdams, Mrs. D. II Wyatit. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



59 



Members of Assembly from Oswego County. 
— lu ISl!) anil until April 12, 1822, Oswego and 
Oueiila couuties were represented in Ibe state 
assembly, as one district. 1)_t five members. Then 
Oswego county was apportioned one member. 
On May 28, lS2l), it was given two members. On 
April 18, 18.j7, and again on April Iti, lSI)(i, it was 
divided into three a sembly districts and on .\pril 
28, 187!), was reduced to two districts with two 
rc|)resentatives, the number it has now. 

Prior to ISl!) the territoiy now comprised in 
( )sw go county wa'< represented by the Onondaga 
iin"iiber, Barnet .Mooney, ^^ho lived in the town 
of Ifannibal. 

The complete list of those who have represented 
this couiity in the .state assembly together with 
the years of service and the districts they respec- 
tivelv r<'|n'e-ented is as follows: 
.\llen, \^'ln F, 181 i-'i 
Ames, Leonard, 2iid d, 18.57 
Ainsworth, Danforth E, 2nd d, 188()-'.S 
Bacon, Ezekial, Oneida-O-wego, 1819 
Bacon, .Tosiah, Oneida-Oswego, 2ud session 1820, 

1st session 1821 
Bronson, (ireene C, Oneida-Oswego, 1822 
Baldwin, Wm, 1st Oswego dist, 18.58 
Brockway, Beman, 3d Oswego dist, 1859 
Bowen, Benj E, 3d d, 1862 
Bulkley, Justin L, 8d, 1873-'! 
Chandler, Samuel, Oneida-Oswego, 1822 
Cortiss, Hastings, 1824 
Crowell, Jesse, 1835 
Carr, Caleb, 1887 
Curtiss, Wm P, 1 d, vice Hatch resigned, second 

se.ssion June 10-July 11, 1851 
Coit, -Tames J, 2 d, 1859 
Carter, Wm H, 2 d, 1860 
Case, Oeorge M, 2 d, 1877-'8 
CuUinan, Patrick W, 1 d, 1880-'l 
Coon, S Mortimer, 1 d, 1888- '9 
Costello, Thomas M, 2nd dist, 1896 — present in- 
cumbent 
Dean, jr, James, Oneida-Oswego, 1st session, 1820 
Devendorf, Peter, 18i0; '42 
Duer, Wm, 1840-'l 
Drake, Reuben, 1816 

Doolittle, Benj, 1 d, 1869 
Daggett, Henry J, 3 d, 1875 

Earl, Orin R, 1847 

Frazier, Allen, Oneida-Oswego, second session 
1820 and first session 1821 

Fallev, George, 1829 

Fitzh'ugh, Henry, 1 d, 1849 

Fo.x, Edward W, 2 d, 1849 

Fort, Daniel G, 1 d, 1872 "3 

Giteau, Luther, Oneida-Oswego, 1819 

Greene, Thomas W, 2 d, 1872; '76 

(iilison, James T, 2 d, 18.52 

Hojt. David P, Oneida- Oswego, 1819 

Huntington, George, Oneida- Oswego, 1819-'22 

Hayden, C'hester, 1825 

Hai-t, Orri.s, 1827-'8 

Hubbel, Hiram, 1830 

Hawley, Samuel, 1859 

Hatch,' .VIo.ses P, Id, 1851, resigned April 1 close 
of 1st session 

Hart, Edwin C, 1 d, 1852 

Howe, Henry 0, 1 d, 1885-'7 

Howe, Al)r.ah.am, 2 d, 1870-'l 

Helm, Bvrou, 2 d, 1882-'3 

Judson, Edward B, 1839; '41 

Johnson, Willard, 2 d 18(52; 1873-'5 

Kirkland, .Joseph, Oneida-Oswego, second session 
1820 and lii'st session 1821 

Kenyon, Robert C, 1842 



Kelsey, Robert S, 3 d, 1860 

Lasher, James D, 2 d, 1868 -'9 

Loomis, Hiram W, 2 d, l8()8-'4 

Lee M Lindley, 1847; 1st d, 1848 

Lewis, jr, William, 1 d, 1850 

Lewis, Benjamin, 2 d, 1851 

Littlejohn, ' Dewitt C, 1 d. 1858-'5; '.57; '.59-'61 ; 
'66-7; '70-'l; '84 

Ijcwis, Tliomas D, Id, 18.1.1 — present incumbent 

^b'XciL Henry, Oneida Osweco, l.st .session 1820 

Miirgan, Theophilus S, Oneida-Oswego, 1st ses- 
sion, 1820; Oswego dist, bs28 

McCarty, Andrew Z, 2d, 1848 

Matoon, Abner C, 1 d, ]8i;8-'4 

^NlcKinnev, Charles, --i d. 1867 

North, Charles, 1 d, 1S78 

Pratt, Peter, Oneida Oswego, 1822 

Perkins, Charles A, 2 d, 1853 

Palmer, Harvev, 3 d, 1868; '4 

Parker, John, 3 d, 18i)6; '70 

Place, John A, 1 d, 1868 

Page, Alanson S, 1 d, 1875 

Preston, JoLn, 8 d. 1876 

Peck, DeWitt C, 8 d, 1877-8 

Poucher, Wm A, 1 d, 1882 -'8 

Root, Wm, Oneida-Oswego, 2nd session 1820 and 
1st session 1821 

Robinson, Orville, 1834; ■3(!; 1 d, 1856 

Rice, Arvin, 1888 

Richardson, John M, 1838 

Root, Eliasl d, 1862; '(55 

Rice, Wm H, 2 d, 1866- '7 

Richardson, Alvin, 3 d, 1868 

Stoddard, Israel, Oneida-Oswego, 1822 

Storrs, John, Oneida- Oswego, 1st session 1820 

Sweet, Gouverneur M, 2 d, 1884-'5 

Sage, Chauncev S, 3 d 1858; '71-'2 

Steele. Wm H,'8 d, 1879; 2nd d, 1880-'l 

Sanford, Richard K, 2 d, 1861 ; '65 

Skinner, Avery, 1882-'3 

Salisbury, Mason, 3 d, 1861 

Strong, Alb.an, 1843-'4 

Severance, Avery W, 8 d, 1865 

Skelton, Thomas, 1845 

Smith, Nathan B. 3 d, 1869 

Smith, Luke D, 2 d, 1850 

Sloane, George B, 1 d 1874; '76-'7; '79 

Selden, Jacob JI, 2 d, 1855 (he was unseated in a 
contest with Andrew S. Warner, March 8) 

Stranahan, N N, 1 d, 1890-'2 

Selleck, W H, 2 d, 1890-'2 

Turrill, Joel. 1831 

Thayer, Luny, ]845-'6 

Tayior. L P, 1 d, 1896- '8 

Woodrutt'e, Theodore, Oneida-Oswego. 1819 

Willi .m.s, CJeorge E, 2 d. 1879 

WiUiams, Hearv, 1826 

Wart, Azariah, 2 d, 1854 

Warner, .\ndrew S, 2 d, (seated in a contest iu 
place of Jacob .M Selden March 8) 18.55; '.56 

Wolcott, John J. 2 d, 1858 

Whitney's Tavern.— In 1837 Judge Whitney 
erected on the site of the present Boyd House a 
frame tavern and in 1851 I^r. C. D. SneU erected 
a brick structure using the frame part for a wing. 
The whole, costing $8,500 and called the Empire 
House and block, w,is burned .Tune 29, 18('>6, the 
])roprietor then lieing J. D. Taylor. Earlier 
landlords were I. L. Dillenbeek, L. Millington 
and C. Tickner. It was rebuilt as at present and 
reopened as the Empire House March, 1867 by 
J. B. Taylor and George Swanson. Then followed 
I. B. Gillson and Capt. David Boyd, the latter 
giving it its present name. F. W. CoukUn is the 
present proprietor. 



00 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Unrrowiui Photii. 
LEWIS MILLEK. 



HAKUIETT 



MII.LEK. 



Lewis Miller, tlio toiiuclcr of the >Iiller Spriuf^- 
\Vaj,'(m Works and iuvuntor and designer of that 
famous wagou, was lioru Sept. 2<), ].S;!0, in Dorf 
Harste, by Gittengio, the Kingdom of Hauover, 
Gei-many. When Ifi yeai's old he accompanied 
his parents to America, hinding at (Quebec, thence 
going by steamer to Montreal and from there by 
canal to Troy, N. Y. The superintendent at the 
emigrant office at the latter ]ilace, Emory Mathews 
discovering that the lad was master of both the 
Dutch and (ierman languages, secured his services 
as interpreter under in<lenture until he became of 
age, made with his ]iarents, agreeing to jiay them 
$ .00; whereupon they proceeded to Wisconsin. 
At the (dosn of navigation, the same year (1H-1(>), 
^Ir. ^Mathews brought him to Mexico, where he 
remained in the family of Myron Evarts, Mr. 
Mai hews' lirotlier-in-law, 
two years, attending 
school winter terms and 
doing farm work the rest 
of the year. On Apr. 1, 
18iH, he was apjtrenticcd 
to Cyrus Turuey, wagon 
maker, for .^35 and board 
the first year. This was 
doubled the second year. 
The third year he woi-ked 
for Nims .t Williamson 
under instructions, his 
salary tliis time being 
again doubled. On Dec. 
7, IH.'iii, he married Uur- 
riett VVhitney a school 
mat<'. He bought the 
residence of .lanu's Law 
at the comer of Main and 
WaHhiugton streets and 
HvcmI there tifteen years. 
Since then lie has occu- 
pied his |)resent residence 
which he imr-ha-ed of nimwi.-k PImhh 



title 
the 



the Ames estjite. Being of an inquiring 
and inventive turn of mind, and industrious, 
he learned all of the branches of the wagon 
and carriage business, and the year after 
his marriage became a partner of Mr. Xims. 
Nims \- ^Miller's shop was then in the build- 
ing now occu])ied by Herbert Adams. At 
the oulbrciik of the rebellion Mr. Miller 
wa-s turuing out a large number of wagons 
of all sirts .some of which are still in use 
and in good condition. In ]S.")4 he bought 
the old aciidemy building, w Inch he moved 
on to the lot now occupied l>v Henry Peu- 
tield's residence where it wa.s jjerniitted to 
staml during the winter on tiueks. In the 
spring of 1H5.") he bought the lot across the 
.street, where the factory still stands, of Or- 
son .\mes, and moved the old building on 
to it, converting it into a factory and secur- 
ing a valuable water ]M>wer privilege. The 
original academy was three stories high. 
Mr. Miller cut oft' the lower srtorv and built 
on an addition, giving the whole edifice a 
uniform height. In making the .sale of the 
old academy, the bell iu the cupola was 
forgotten by the trustees, one of whom 
afterwards called ( m^Ir. Miller and .suggested 
that if he didn't want it (the latter i-laiming 
lo it) the trusties dia. Mr. Miller returned 
bell. In 1S78 the great influx of cheap fac- 



tory work forced down jjrices and Mr. Miller with 
a great many Wagous on hand, brought his iuveu 
tive ability to liear on the difficulty, and produced 
the eight coO 8]>ring lumber w.igon. He secured 
the patent in Sei)tember, IS'.ll, and formed a com- 
pany to manufacture it. This is the famous Mil- 
ler &])ring wagou, hundreds of which have been 
shijiped all over the <'Ountry, which is now being 
manufa'tured on a larger scale than ever before 
by Mr. George Cusack who succeeded the Miller 
Spring Wagon Company as owner of tin' plant. 
Mr. Miller, industrious for one of his yi'ars, can 
be found nearly every day around the wcuks tak 
ing a i)ardonable pride in witnessing the [irogress 
of the industry which he created. 




T,F,WIS MILLER'S RESIDENCE. 



'OEIP'S'- HISTOEICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



61 




Duiiwkk. I'; 



THK FAMnIS MIlJ.KIi STKING W 



The Famous Miller Sjiiiug Lumber W'iigon 
was jiateutecl Sept. ], ISill, by its inveutor, Lewis 
Miller, of Mexico, N. Y. , whose uame it bears. 
This wagon, because oi' its many superior qualities 
reuilily came into favor and use; and it is ditheult 
today to sell any other wagon in competition with 
the Miller sjiring wagon. The following are a few 
of the many features which make this wagon so 
pojjular: It has four half-coil springs made from 
the best crucilile steel and fully tested uader each 
bolster, at' ached to the axle near the arm, al-o a 
spring running lengthwihC under each bolster act- 
ing as a cheek-spi'ing. This wagon with the 
springs, in lower than the common stiti' bolster 
wagon without springs. The bearing coming 
close to the arm and the gearing being under the 
axle, makes it one of the easiest drawing wagons 
known. The claim is made, wliich many wiD 
verify, that one fourth more can I)e drawn on a 
MiUer spring wagon with the same jjower at- 
tiiched. All material in these wagons is carefully 
examined and nothing but the Ijest used. All 
wide rims are riveted each side of spoke. The 
stakes are of maleable iron rendering them very 
strong as well as tasty. The wagons are made in 
sizes ranging from eighteen hundred to five tons 
capacity. They have only to be .seen to be ap- 
preciated and used. (i. 1). Cusack. formerly of 



Clifford, N. Y., came to 
Mexico in October, 1901, to 
t ike the management of 
tlie manufacture of these 
wagons. 

Boylston Tract was a 

.sub-division of the big Mc- 
C'orniick and Macomb pur- 
chase j)atented for Samuel 
WiU-d Dec. 18, 1792 and con- 
tained 817,155 acres in Jef- 
c rsim. Lewis and the nor- 
thern )iarl of Oswego coun- 
ties. The purchase was 
made by Ward as an agent 
for Thomas Jjoylston. That 
part lying in Oswego 
county was reconveyed to 
later. Bovlston had the 



AGON. 

Constable four years 
tract surveyed and divided into the following 
townships: Redtield (the north part of the present 
town of Redtield), .\rcadia (the south part of Red- 
tield), Campania (now Boylston), Longinus (now 
OrweUi, Rhodamout (now Sandy Creek, the north 
part of Richland and one corner of Albion) 
and Minos (now EUisburgh. Jeft'drson county). 

Judge Avery Skinner wa^ identified in the 
pioneer history of Mexico. In 1822 he settled at 
Union Square where he died Nov. 2-t, 187r). He 
gave the place its name, erected the first tavern, 
estalilished a mail route, was appointed the first 
postmaster, serving until his death. In 1831 and 
again in 1882 he was elected member of assembly 
and from 1838 to 1842 was state senator. He was 
also county treasurer for 12 years and was one of 
the judges in the county court for 11 years. 

Normal Schools oi the State. — Albany, 
opened 1841, William .1. Milne. ])resident; Oswego, 
1863, I. B. Puncher, jirincipal; Brockport, 1867, 
I). Eugene Smith; Fredonia, bSf;8, Fiancis B. 
Palmer; Clortland, 1869, Francis J. Chenev; Pots- 
dam, 1869, Thomas B. Stowell; Buttalo, 1871, 
James M. Cassetv; Geueseo, 1871, John M. Milne, 
New Paltz, 188ii,' Frank S. Capen; Oneonta, 1889, 
Percy L. Bugbee; Plattsluirg, 1890, G. K. Haw- 
kins; Jamaica. 1897. A. C. Mcljachlan. 




Fnmi Old I'rinl. 



THE HOME OF THE MILLER SPRIXG WAGOX. 



C,2 



"GRIP'S" UISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




lioncnvrd Photo. ASA L. SAMPSON. 

Asa Lewis Sampson was l>oru iii this town 
December 13, IS'JS, iinil his whole hfe wius passed 
in this immediate vieinity. He has been inti- 
mately identified with the prosperity and profp-ess 
of thi.s community, and gave hi.s best efiforls to its 
welfare. He died at his own home Jan. 10, 19(W, 
ill the seventy-fifth year of his age. His father, 
(ieorge Sauijison, was a native of Massachusetts 
and died in this town. His father was a sub- 
stantial farmer, and in the intervals of gaining a 
good common school education the .sou was inured 
to the same hniiorable piir.suit. He taught school 
winters to gain funds for his snjiport and educa- 
tion. His mother Lucy (Davis) Samp.son, was a 
<leseendaut from Puritan stock. 

Mr. Sampson Wius a republit^an in polit'cs and 
hius filled many positions of tru.st and responsibility 
in town and county and always [iroved himself 
fully e(|ual to every position in which h(> was 
jdaced. He reju'eseiited this town in the board of 
suiiervisors for ten years, and was cliuirman of the 
board for four years. He wa.s one of the most iu- 
fiuential members of that body. He was first 



elected supervisor in 1876. As n public officer he 
Wis efficient and devoted to the interests of the 
town. 

He was fond of agricultural pursuits and his 
life was largely spent on the farm. First and 
last he stood for the best interests of the fanner. 
He was (Uie of the organizers of the Oswego 
("ounty Fire Insurance Company, established io 
the interests of th'> gr.mge and wa.s its eflicient 
secretarv (or twenty five years. Intelligent and 
practical, he was never given to poiii]! and dis- 





IMnnvii-k, Plinto. 



hit. i;, s. sAMi'sdNs liKsiiiiiNcr,. 



Iloiiowid Plioto. DR. E. S. S.VMPSll.N". 

jilay. Honest, energetic and self maiie, he was 
always strong with the i>eoi)le. 

He was a warm friend of Mexico Academy, and 
for along pei'iod was a faithful member of the old 
boai-d of trustees of that institution. In early life 
he was for many years one of the trustees of t'le 
historic old Pratthain church, the site of wliose 
place of worship was on the bleak ami stony hill 
just west of I'rattvillc. Since the ilissolution of 
the old church Mr. Sampson attended tlie I'resljy- 
tex'ian church in this village of which he was a 
member and ime of the 
^~^ trustees at tlic tiiiK' of his 
death. 

Mr. Sani)>sou was mar- 
ried to Elvira H. Porler 
in 1S.")2. His wife died 
Sept. l.st, IHDC. He was 
the father of eight child- 
ren, two of whom,.\rtlinr 
L.and.Vlfred P., are dead. 
The surviving children 
are Ernest S., William 
.\., (ieorge H. and 
I'harles E.,all ofMexico, 
N. Y.,Orvilh> A., of Troy, 
Pa., and ^Irs. Martha L. 
Wilscm of Siiortsville, N. 
Y. Iq his ileatli his 
children lose a fond, iu- 
ilulgeiit father and the 
town loses a prominent 
citizen who will li>ng I e 
niissod in all business 
circles. 



'GEIP8" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



63 




llorrowcd IMiolo. 

liKOlfCiF. H. SAMPSON. 

Ernest S. Sampson, M. D. wa-^ Ixuu iu Mex- 
ic-o, X. Y., March 31, 185(\ His early life was 
Hi)ent, on his father's farm near Jlexico, bariing a 
nooily pait of it that was devoteil to uhtainiug 
the I'ounil itiiin of an eiliieation in the country 
school. When he ou*grew the common school he 
went to Mexico and entered the academy, gradu- 
ating from that mstitutiim in 1.S77. Suhsequently 
he engaged in tea hing during the wiater whUe 
in summer he was employed at various occupa- 
tions to accumulate a fund to aid hira in ihe 
further prosecution of his .studies. He had lie- 
I'onie inspired with the idea of a professional life, 
anil it was to thi.s end that he 1 ibored and studied. 
In the fall of 1S77 he went to Aurora, III, and 
entered the (■thee of I'r. Abuer Hard, apiominent 
physician and former army surgeon of high stand- 
ing. .\l)(iut a year later he returned to Mexico 
and resumed tlie studv of medicine with Dr. 
(ieorge 1'. Johnson. In 1.S80 he entered the .\l- 
bany Medical College obtaining the degree of 
M. I), in ISS'i. Thus he prepared himself for 
a professional htV in wliich he has achieved sub- 



stantial success. Dr. Sampson was the son of 
Asa L. Sampson and was the second of a family 
of eight children. He practiced medicine 
in North S;yracuse, X. Y. from 18S2 until the fall 
of 1890 when he moved back to IMexico, N. Y., 
where he now resides. In August, 1805. Dr. 
Sampson married Miss Ruth Tompkins, daughter 
of Henry and Emily Tompkins, then of Cigarville, 
N. Y. They now have fcnir children, Kiitli Emily, 
Ralph Everet, Marion Elvira and Mariha Bessie. 
] )r. Sampson is a member of the Onondaga Co. 





Dmnvirk, IMnit* 



GEOKGE H. SAMPSON'S RESIDENCE 



Horrdwcil I'lioM). CHAIU.ES E. SAMI'.sii.N. 

Medical Society, has been health physician sev- 
eral terms, and active iu republican polities in the 
northern part of Onondaga, couuty. He is a Past 
Masler in the Masonic order and is now a member 
of Mexico Lodge, Xo l:i(). He is now the acting 
Noble Grand in Orient Lodge Xo. 108, I. (). (). 
F., and examiu ng physician in Mexico Tent cf 
'Maccabees Xo 7.^L l)v. Samp.sou is also inter- 
ested in mu.sic, has .sung in a nnmljcr ol choirs 
and is now tlje leader of the Methodist choir. His 
residence i-i on Washington street, Mexico, X. Y. 

George Hayden Samjison, who is one of (he 

popular and most experi- 
enced mail clerks on the 
Xortheru Xew York rail- 
way postal lines, has his 
home hi Mexico. On a 
farm in this town he was 
born .July 17, 18(;i), and 
was educated in the Mex- 
ico academy, he like all 
farmer boys, having had 
the experience of farm 
work in his youth. On 
Jan. 2, 1884, he was ap- 
pointed I'Ostal clerk be- 
tween Ogdensburg and 
Rome. Two year- later, 
.Inn. 7, 188(1, lie married 
Hattie R. House. After 
running over the long 
railway mail route upon 
which he wa.s first placed 
for some time his trips 
were changed so that now 
he is running between 



CA 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOU\rEXri; OF MEXICO. 




\V. H. PENKIELD. 

Utioa anil Ma:s<nia Springs. Mr. Siinipson's sec- 
ond wife to wlioiii lie was niamed Sept. 2(). litOl, 
was Miss ^Minnie C. Drake. His tliree chi'dren, 
all by bis first wife, are HiU'old, Roy and Mildred. 
Mr. Sampson is a niomlier of the ]\[as(inic lodge 
of Mexico. 

Charles E. Sampson, the youngest of the 
sons of the late Asa L. Sampson now living, and 
the owner of the old homesteail. was born on a 
farm in the town of Me.xico July 27, KM. After 
leaving school — the Mexico academy — he taught 
for awhile in various districts in this and .Tetl'erson 
counties. Then, upon his father's death he came 
into possession of the old liome.slead which dates 
back in the family to his grandfather. This is one 
of the best dairy iarnis in this locality, which is 
being ini])rove(i by Mr. Samjjson. Here is located 
one of the famed sugar bushes tlie proiluct of 
which is annually sold in tlie highest priceil mar- 
kets. Mr. Samiisoii is a 
member of the Masons 
and Odd Fellows. 

The First Banking 
Venture in Jlexico was 
that of O. H. Whitney, 
wlio was succeeded by 
Cyrus Whitney & Tim- 
otliy W. Skinner. In IB.")") 
S'one, Ames & Co. locat- 
ed a bank in the upi)er 
))art of (ieo. W. Stone's 
i)uilding. Tlie,v were 
Slice eili'd by Chandler A: 
.\nies who in turn were 
succeed! (1 l)y Ijither H. 
(! o n k 1 i n. ( leorge (i. 
French afterwards came 
from the Seroiid National 
bank at < ).sw(> o and open- 
ed a i)rivate bank. .Ml 
ofthe.se veuturi's weie at 
last wound up. liunwi.k. I'li.ii. 



W. H. Penfield, who is one of the leading un- 
dertakers in this part of the county, was born in 
Mexico, Mar. 3(1, 1S41. His father, William Pen- 
field, a blacksmith by trade, came here from Con- 
necticut about 1837 or "38 and for several years in 
company with his brother manufactured stage 
coaches which was a ju-omineut imlustry in the 
village, these coaches being sold in all sections of 
the country. He died in ISil-t. W. H. Penfield 
attending school at Mexico, worked in the sho]) 
unlil about IHIKi, excepting ttie time he w.as in the 
army, when he wa.s a])pointed the Mexi' o agent 
for the .\merican express company, a po>ition he 
held for about 28 years: at the .same time running 
tlie bus line to and from the railroad station. In 
1877 he bought out the undertaking business of 
William Ely. 

In 18(;(i he opened the tir.st coal yard in the vil- 
lage, a business which he conducted during the 
time he wa'* express agent and which he disposed 
of to Earl Taylor. .\fter occu))ying several 
locations in the village he moved his undertaking 
bn.siness into the building which he erected for 
that i)nrpose on the Wayne street lot a<ljoining 
his residence. He procured new hear.ses and 
wagons of moilern make and a full line of the best 
e(piipment.s. He is a practical enibalmer with an 
experience of 2.") years. The building with its 
large store and ware rooms is especiall,y adapted 
to the needs of his business. Mr. Penfield is a 
member of Melzar Richards Post, O. \. R., hav- 
ing served two yeM's in the war of the rebellion as 
a musician. He has served as trustee of the vil- 
lage two or three yciirs. 

The First Regular Hotel in Mexico vUlage 
was erected on the site of the Mexico House by 
^latthius Whitney in 1823, and was succeeded by 
a better building which was burned July 22, 18(i4, 
while being conducted by .\lbin Meyers. Pre- 
vious to tlie latter the landlords wen- .\. S. Cliam- 
berlin, Chamberlin A- Roblnns and J. I?. Taylor. 
The hotel was rebuilt in 18(15 and reopened by 
Ira Biddlecome, landlord who in 1S8() was follow- 
ed by J. B. Davis. In January, 18ti7 it passed 
into the lianils of C. S Mayo, whose name it boiv 
se\eral vears. 




i'i'..M-ii:i,irs KKsiDKNci:. 



'GRIP'S'- HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF 5IEXIC0. 



H5 




Hnniiwiii Plliito 

liKilltCK I). TiAnCDCK. 

George D. Babcock, whose home is in Mexi- 
co but who is attached in au ofKoial capacity to 
the Department of Agricultnre of this state with 
headquarters at AlbauT, is a lifelong democrat, a 
man whose life has been ac'ive and who has been 
considerably well known ia the political att'airs of 
Northern New York. Mr. Babcock was a personal 
friend of the late Gov. Eoswell P. Flower, but his 
fidelily to public service has been recognized by 
others than Mr. Flower. Under Gov. Hill he re- 
ceived au appointment phiciug him in the state 
forestry department, where afler a year's service 
he resigned to accept his present i)Ositiou in the 
dejiartment which was then in charge of J. K. 
Brown. WhenF. C. Schraub and afterwards Mr. 
C. A Weitiug was made Commissioner of .\gricul- 
ture, though the latter was a republican Mr. Bab- 
cock was retained by both 
commibsionei's. The duty 
imposed upon him is that 
cif seeing that the agricul- 
tural laws are enforced. 
I )uriug President Cleve- 
Liud's first term Mr. Bab 
cock serve<l as postmaster 
of Mexico. Before his 
removal to this village 
he was engaged in mer- 
cantile life in Watertown. 
Afterwards, for ten years, 
he in company with his 
lir.)tler, H. H. Babcoik. 
inanufactiirt'd ]ium|)S in 
that city, au industry 
which the former con- 
tiuued for some years iji 
llieviUiigj. Amoiigother 
public positions which 
have beeu filled by Mr. 
i5abeock are those of 
village trustee and as- 
sessor. In May, ]8(il,he 
nmrried Miss Mary E. Dmiwiik, I'hdii 



O'Neill. By this marriage there were live chil- 
dren, all living. 

Mr. Babcock is a zealous sui)i)orter of the Epis- 
copal church of this village and is one of its most 
active members 

District Attorneys. — This office was created 
throughout the state Apr. 4, 1801, there being 
seven districts, regardless of county lines. By an 
act of Apr. 1818, each county was given a separ- 
ate district attorney. Prior to 1801, by an act of 
Feb. VI, 1796, seven deputies of the attorney 
general, each assigned to a district, served in that 
capacity. The incumbents in Oswego county and 
dates 1 leginning their terms or years they served : — 
.Tames F. Wright, Oswego, Apr. 17, 1820; Samuel 
B. Beach, Oswego, Feb. lit, 1821; David 1". Brew 
ster, Oswego, 1829-35; Abraham P. (iraut, ( )swego, 
18:i(i-'40; Orville Robinson, Mexico, 1841-'2; Le- 
ander Babcock, Oswego, 184i "4; Wm. Dner, Os- 
wego, 1845-'(); Ransom H. Tyler, Fulton, June, 
1847-'50; John B. Higgius, Oswego, 18,"il-':i; 
Archibald N. Ludington, Fidtou, 1854-'t);.Iohn C. 
Churchill, Oswego, 1857-'9; George G. French, 
Mexico, 18(iO-'2; William H. Baker, Constjiitia, 
1863-'5; app. vice Huntington resigned ]8()(i; 
elected and served 18()7 '9; Sylvanus (". Hunting- 
ton, Pulaski, ]8(i() (served only a few months and 
resigned); Newton W. Nutting, Oswego, ]870-'2; 
John J. Lamoree, Oswego, 1873-'8; Benjamin F. 
Cha.se, Oswego, 1879-'81; Nathan B. Smith, Pu- 
laski, 1882-'4; Sheldon B. Mead, Fulton, 188r)-'7; 
Merrick Stowell, Oswego, 1888-'90; Charles W. 
Avery. PlKenix, 1891-'3; Nevada N. Stranahan, 
Fulton, 1894-'(i; Udelle Bartlett, Sandv Creek, 
1897-1902; Wm. B. Baker, Oswego, 1903— present 
incumbent. 

First Court of Common Pleas, first jury 
district ( )swego county, was held at the school 
house in the viUage of Mexico. Peter D. Hugu- 
nin and Edmund Hawks were presiding judges 
aud Daniel Hawks, jr., was assistant judge. Lu- 
ther Badger, Abraham Van Vosburgh, John (irant, 
jr., and Thomas French were admitted to practice 
law; the first lawyers admitted to practice in the 
new county. 



■Hp^^F'^'s V( 


#ri#'riJl 


iPi:iim-iji4 








-^..^■- r 


J 


■ir -.---^ ^^^^^^3 


^K^ - ■ ^w^^mm 



(iKOIUiE II. ll,\l!l iilK S UE.-silJliNCli. 



66 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




lliK'isl< il. I'hiiti 



.IKUiiMK IIAKKU. 



Jerome E. Baker, t lie street commissioner of 
the village <if Mexieo, wax boni m the town of 
Onondagii, Onondaga Co., N. Y., .\pnl 8, 1H."4, 
his home being near the cifv of Syrai-nse. His 
jjarenta, William Z. and .\nrilla .\nianda Baker, 
were prosperous ^'ermout pe jile. In 18.")9 they 
move to Bntterily, Oswego Co. lu 1867 snd '(iS 
.Teronie Baker attended the Mexico academy jiud 
upon leaving school went away from home to learn 
trade. \ .short time after he began manufactur- 
ing, a business he has eugaged in for some years. 
On Oct. 2;>, 1872, he married Nellie .1., the daugh- 
ter of Frank and ;\Ialitta ^'alentiue, of the t<iwn 
of New Haven, Oswego Co., a union which is 
Ide.ssed with two children. May and Frank, both 
students at the Syracuse I'uiversity. The follow 
ing year, 187:!, !\lr. ami Mrs. Baker t .ok up their 
home at (ireenwood. Mo., going to Fulton, N. 
Y.. to live in 1874 and in ls7i: to Hudson, Mich,, 
In 1881 tliey to<ik n\< 
their residence in Paler- 
mo, N,Y ,and lived there 
until 18,sl when he re- 
tirm d to Mexico, where 
he has ref^ided ever since. 
Mr. Baker, a demociat, 
])roniiueut in the ("eve- 
land wing of tlic i>arty, 
IS a member of the 
democratic county com- 
mittee, a post he has rc- 
I- ipied with credit to 
himself and party since 
bSMIl, except during :iii 
interval of two years. He 
lias been active as a 
delegate at state and 
<'oiintv conventions. 
From'l8S7 to IMMK he was 
deimty collector of cus- 
toms at I'ort Outiirio'aud 
iu .Tuly, 18'.)."j, wa.s ap- 
pointed postranster of iiiinwlik, Phoio, 



Mexico by Pi-esident Cleveland, au office he held 
four years. Mr. Baker has always been a zeiJous 
8upi)orter of village improvements and as street 
commissioner where heisserving the second term, 
has aimed to carry out the policy of maintiiuiug 
go^d streets for which Mexico is noted. He served 
as village president in 1901 Vint declined a second 
tiTiii, and the following year served as \illage 
trustee, ajipointed to till tlie vacancy caused by 
the resignation of Mr. Osboru. Mr. Baker erect- 
ed the post office building and that occupied by 
the A?eopagus club in l.s;»7. He is a charter 
member of that club and a uiember of the Me.\ico 
Lodge No. 135, F. \- A. :\I. 

Chicken Served in the most appetizing way: — 
I'liree pints of cold boiled chicken, three hard 
boiled eggs, three heaping tablespoousful of Hour 
that has been browned in the oven, half a pint of 
chicken stock, one pint of good rich milk, one 
wine glass of ^Madeira, one even teasii(>onful of 
salt, a pinch of cayenne pejiper. one half tea- 
spoonful of mace and one cu]) of butter. Mince 
the chicken tine, rub the eggs through a tine seive, 
melt the butter in a large stew jiaii and add the 
flour. Next add the .stock and milk which has 
been scalded, then the chicken in which all the 
sejisouing has been well mixed and the eggs; cook 
slowly hidf an hour on the back of stove. Just 
before serving add the wine. Tliis is to be served 
on brown toast and will serve twenty jiersons. 

Trout Delicious is the i>roper term for serv- 
ing as follows: — Dress half a dozen brook trout, 
weighing about four ounces each, without des- 
troying shape. Fill with a fish force-meat and 
.secure the slit made in dressing. Brush over 
with melt(>d butter or with olive oil, pieces of 
pajier and put a very thin shaving of salt pork iu 
the center of each, with a trout above it, dust with 
salt and pepper, then fold and fasten it closely 
with a string. Bake about twenty niinutes ia a 
slow oven, remove the string and serve in the 
pa)iers, .serve at the same time Hollandaise, 
Lechamel or lomato sauce. Other fish niav be 
cooked in the same nianiur. 




.IKKII.MI-; II.VKEUS HK.-ilDENrK. 



■GEIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENIE OF MEXICO. 



67 




Borrowed Photo. 

BENJAMIN S. STONE. 

B. S. Stone & Co. — There is no cue who hiis 
for .so miiny consecutive years lieen a resident of 
this vilhige as B. S. Stone, and probably no man 
in Oswego county whose business career goes 
back as far, and there are few who have been more 
highly respected for sterling worth and unques- 
tioned integrity. Mr. Stone was liorn in Brid- 
port, Vermont, Mar. 2(5, 1821, and came to Mexico 
with his parents, Isaac and Lydia Stone, who 
made the journey by wagon with their six child- 
ren, of whom Benjamin was the fourth, in the fall 
of ]S2ti. Beared on a farm, with all the priva- 
tions and hardships that that implied in those 
days, with little oppor- 
tunity to gratify his desu-e 
for an education, at the 
age of s venleeu he en- 
tered upon a clerk.ship in 
the general store of Peter 
Chandler, the merchant 
prince of the town, with 
whom he remained until 
that gentleman's retire- 
ment in 18-13, from the 
busm. ss, S. H. <t B. S. 
Stone succeeding him. 
In ]8.")7 this partnership 
was di.ssolved, imd B. S. 
Stone and S. A Tulh r 
engaged in the hardware 
and stove trade in the old 
town hall building which 
stood on the corner now 
occui)ied by E. T. Simp- 
son's store. In 1862 
their building burned 
and they bought the Huestfd. Pboti 



store standing where the present building of B. 
S. StoDe & Co. does. Mr. Tuller withdrew 
after the fire of 1864, which turned them, as well 
as every other business on the south side, into the 
street. In 1865 the store was rebuilt and J. R. 
Stone, a younger brother, took an inter.set in the 
business, his death iu 1868 dissolving the tirni of 
B. & J. Stone. Later the firm became B. S. Stone 
A: Co., Edward T. Stone, the jjresent projirietor, 
taking an active interest in the business, nhich he 
has successfully mnuaged for m.any years. Jn 
1882 tire again burned the fir.n out, and the same 
year ihe present building wa.s erectetl. 

In 181(; Mr. Stone nuirried Sarah E. Chester, 
and they beg n housekee|>ing in the little house 
on Church street now occui)ied liy Elon Van 
Sickle, which then stood wheie E. L. Hunt ng- 
ton's tine residence is. In 1850 he l)uilt and 
moved into the house on Spruig street which has 
since Vjeen the family homestead. He has four 
sons living: Walter C, proprietor of the .\dvauce 
Journal, Camden, X. Y. ; Edward T., of B. S. 
Stone A: Co.; Vr. WilHaiii G., of Montclaii', N. J.: 
and Rev. Carlos H.. Ph. I)., proprietor of Corn- 
wall Heights school, Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y. 
His wfe died in 1861 and two years later he mar- 
ried Mrs. Ellen S. Boyle, who died in 1895. Mr. 
Stone has never been active in politics, though a 
staunch republican since the organization of the 
party, but has been called to many jiositions of 
honor and public trust. A member of the Pres- 
byterian chui-ch since young manhooil, for the 
greater part of the time he has been a member of 
the board of tm.st^es, and for many jears one of 
the sei-sion. A member of the board of tnistees 
of Mexico Academy for over fifty years and jiresi- 
dent for nearly twenty, he was most jirominent in 
the erection of the present building, estimatmg 
its cost, and what is noteworthy in these ilays, 
completed it within the estimate. He has several 
times served as village trustee, ami for thirty 
years was prominently identified with Ihe Mexi<'0 
Cemetery as.sociation. He was from iis founda- 
tion a trustee of the Oswego County Savings 
Bank and for many years one of its vice presi- 
dent.s. .\lways au active, energetic man, in .\pril. 
1899, he was stricken with paralysis w hich att'ected 
the right side, rendering him comparatively help- 




n. S. :^T()^'E \ CO.'.s r^rnUK. 



68 



"GRIP'S" IIISTOKICAL, SOUVENUi OF MEXICO. 




Diiiiwu k. I'lic.t. 



.1. T. iiiiii\VN> iiahm;>s .--iiiir 



less: Imt inentalJy he is clear headeil auil main- 
tains his interest ia the current events of the day. 
in spite of his eifjhtv-two years, with as much zest 
as many a younger man. 

Edward T. Stime was liorn in Mexico .\pril 2:^, 
1853. His education was acijuired ia the common 
schools and Mexii'o .\eademy, and at an early age 
he became salesman in bis lather's store. Later 
he had an interest in the firm, and Hnally became 
sole jiroprietor, although retaining the old well- 
known tiriu name. In LSTo he married Xettie 
Warren, and they have three sons: Hev. Warren 
S., pastor of the Presbyterian church, Le Koy, 
X. Y. : Chester T. and Donald E. iu school. Mr. 
Stone is a member of the board of trustees of the 
Pre.sbyteriju church and of Mexico Lodge Xo. 
l;i(;, F. A- A. M. 

Samuel Hubbard Stone was born in Bridg- 
liort, Vt,, !\larch fl, ISIS. He was the oldest of 
twelve chililreii, and iu IH'ili the family emigrated 
overland. It was their 
original intention to go 
farther west, but stoi)i)ing 
in .Mexico en route, they 
located there permanent- 
ly. Mr. Stone's mot her 
was a delicate woman of 
sweet and gentle nature, 
whose religious faith and 
teiuperament were 
strongly developed. 
From her he took the 
strong element of Clnist- 
ian faith which perviidid 
his lile. From his father, 
Isaac Stone, he doiil)tless 
iuherited the more ru'jg<'cl 
(puditicH which en,ii)lcd 
him to mi-et the necessity 
of mailing his own way 
ill the world. When liut 
a boy of fifteen lie ob 
lained n position iu the 
store of Starr ClarU and 
started upon theiumimer- 
cial career which he '"sTEVK.NS iiKurili;i{» 



followed for over half u 
i-entury. .\fter a few 
years in the capacity of 
clerk for Mr. Clark, he at- 
tended Mexico academy 
f r a short course of 
study. Soon after leav- 
ing school he olilained a 
position iu the store of 
I'eter Chandler, then the 
leading Inisiiiess man and 
c.ipitalist iu this region. 
Here his fiithful, tner- 
geti.^ industry and keen 
b siness ability soon 
made him a favorite with 
hi-employer, whose ati'cc- 
tion and coutidence he 
retained throughout Mr. 
Chandler's life. Mr.Stone 
was made one of the ex- 
t cutors of Mr.Chandhr's 
will. In 1,S4;^ S. H. and 
15. S. Stone bought out 
!\Ir. ('h.indier andS. H. Stone carrieil on the sami' 
business in the same place for many years and was 
slill lut rested in it, as conducted by his brother, 
(ieorge W Stone, at the time of his death. 

The leading trait of Mr. Stone's character was 
uncompromising honesty. He had no jiatience 
with uuderhaiiiled methods and was intolerant 
of the slightest deviation from the line of truth. 
This will explain the biting, sarcastic epigrams 
which he applied to anyone whom he suspected of 
trickery. Tho public appreciation of his own 
wcuth in this respect was shown by the many 
positions of trust which he oci'iipie<l. .\t the age 
of thirty he w.is elected treasurer of Oswego 
county, holding the otlice during two terms. He 
was also administrator of the estate of I^evi Down- 
ing, and his couusel was sought by many who had 
coutidence in him as a business man. For over 
thirty years he wa.s treasurer of the Bo ird of 
Trustees of Mexico .\cadeniy, an institution in 
which he was alwavs warinlv interested, ami for 




l'l,.\.M.Mi MILL .\M1 WiMill WllUKl.Mi I'L.V.M'. 



'CtKIP'S" historical souvenir of MEXICO. 



69 




Diiiiwick, riioi. 



IF.Ll llACiKltS LAlMlIiV AND KESIUEXCE 



whose l)elialf he freely sjieut his timean<l money, 
being one of the largest contributors towards the 
erection of the present academy building. He 
was a prominent member and liberal contributor 
of the Presbvtcri in church of Mexico for more 
than fifty years. Personally he was a man of strong 
friendships and strong prejudices; generous im- 
jjulses, (juick intuitions and accurate in his judg- 
ment of human nature. He told a story well, had 
a keen sense of humor and greatly enjoyed the 
social side of life. 

Xo sketch of Mr. Stone's career, however, can 
be complete witliout mention of his wife, to whose 
rare jmlgment. discretion and prudence he always 
and i)roudly attributed much of what success he 
enjoyed. Slie was Rhoda Ann, eldest daugliter 
of Sophronia Kellogg and Luke Butterfield She 
was born in 1S21, on a farm east of the village and 
lived always in Mexico. Her father died when 
she was six years old; and when at the age of tif 
teen she was also left motherless, she I'ai'ed for 
tlie younger members of the family, sustaining to 
them the part of a mother as well as sister and 
housekeeper. The following years were spent in 
the family of her maternal grandparents, Martin 



and Rhoda Smith Kellogg 
and assistance of her 
uncle, the late Rev. Lewis 
KeUogg, she received an 
excelli nt education, com- 
pleting it at the Emma 
Willard school in Troy, 
and at ihe c jllege in con- 
nection with her teaching 
at Oberliu, Ohio. She 
taught succe sfully for 
several yeaisand in. Tune. 
bS44. w;is married to Mr. 
Stone. Their life to- 
gethi-r was one ol mutual 
I'ontidence and happi- 
ness and their home was 
crowned with a broad 
spirit of hospitality en- 
joyed by many who will 
still recall their loyalty 
and strong attachment to 



Through tlie interest 



their friends, a trait very 
jiromiuent in tbem both. 
Mrs. Stone was an active 
and devoted member of 
the Presbyterian church. 
A woman of strong char- 
acter, broad and consider- 
ate charity; even, cool 
and gentle in her tempi-r 
and judgment of others. 
It was a great joy to her 
that in later life she was 
able, to some extent to 
minister to those who 
had in the trials and bad- 
ness which tinged her 
girlhood days, contrib- 
uted so generou~ly of 
sympathy and the guid- 
ance of her education. 
Mr. and Mrs. Stone had 
four children, two of 
whom preceded theii- 
mother in the la.st silent 
journey. Those remain- 
ing are Charles L. Stone of Syracuse, N. Y., and 
Mrs.F.H. Peek, of Utica,N.Y. Theycountius their 
chief blessing the heritage of such parents and re- 
joice to know th.at Iheir declining years were made 
Ijright by the devoted love and appreciation of 
their children. Both Mr. and ^Irs. Stone were 
j)ermitted to live to the end in the home they 
loved so well. Mr. Stone died -Tan. lit), 1887, and 
Mrs. Stone followed him on the 13th of .Tune, 
189l2, at Ihe family residence in Church street. 

The Old Postoffice Corner, now Ballard's 

store, was for a long time the gathering place of 
men of all parties and creeds who stood in groups 
discussing events of the day, waiting for the eve- 
ning mail. This was during stirring times lead- 
ing ujj to the war of '61. There gathered the 
hard shells and soft shells, the hunkers and barn 
burners, the silver greys and the abolitionists. 
The chief actors in these di.scussions were the 
racy Downing, the suave Smith, the ipiiet Butler 
(the postmaster), the positive Bowen, the witty 
Dayton, the Pecks, tiie Conklins and the Whit- 
nevs. 




liiinwirk, I'hrvti 



H. 1.. HciIGHTOXS WACON AMI HI.AIKSMITH SHOT. 



70 



"GRIPS" HLSTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




II. W. "II I TNKV. (lliK'St.<l,) 



l.\Tf;iil(>H IIF HIS IlKNT.M, linoMS. (!io 



Dr. H. W. Whitney, the well Inowu iiuil suc- 
cessful ileuti>t of this village, was bora in Mexico, 
.Tilly 17, 1S7;}, stid in 189.5 was graduated at the 
militaiT- school which was then being conducted 
in connection with the Mexico academy. The 
next year he entered dentistry under the instnic- 
tion of a (^apal)le dentist where he obtained the 
experience connected with an extended practice 
covering a period of four or five years. Then he 
took a course in one of the leading dental institu- 
tions in the country, the ('ollege of Dental Sur- 
gery at P>ufialij, X. Y , where in May, 1901, he 
received his diploma. ('oniing to Mexico he 
opened an ollice in the Dobson building which he 
fitted uj) in aj)]>roi)riat«? style and where, etpiipped 
to carry on the practice in a successful manner, in 
.Tune, 1901, he began a business that has since 
steadily increase<l. On Aug. fi, 1902, he married 
Mary M. Handhovel of Mexico, a graduate of 
the Synicu'e University and for some time a l)op- 
ular teacher in the Mexico academy. 

Dr. ^^^litney is descended from a family 
which came to Mexico early in the S''ttlement of 
the town and his father, George B. Whitney, wos 
among the large wool growers who flourished here 
years ago. His grandfather, .Tames U. Whitney, 
was a brother of .Tudge Whitney, a distinguished 
jurist of Oswego county miiny years ago. 



Original Owners of Mexico village. — This 
thriving village stands on ground which was for- 
merly the site of five or six large and ])roductive 
farms. That part of the village lying eait of Sal- 
mon Creek and known as the east hill, was largely 
owned by Peter Chandler, I'hineas Davis, sr , aiul 
Dr. C. IX SneU. That part of the village south 
of Main street, through which Church, Sonth.Tett'er- 
son and Washington streets run, wa.s known as 
the Butler farm and was cut up into \illage lots 
by Nathaniel Butler, Orville Kobinson and Luther 
S. Conkliu. That ])orticin north of Main street 
from the Boyd Hou.se and Webb Block northcily 
to the railroad <le])ot au<l nortbwest<'rly to Mill 
street, was once the large farm of .Tohn .Ames and 
afterwards owned by Calvin (ioodwin and Dr. 
Ben.jamin !•]. Bowen. Through the olil farm now 
ran Nortli .TclTerson. Fayette, Clinton, Cemetery 
and liailroad streets. .\ large portion of the vil- 
lage west of Black Creek originally comprised the 
farms of .Tohn Howard, Leonard .\mes, sr, Veeiler 
Green, Shubal .\lfred, Xorman .Tones and Orson 
.\mes. 

The State Road fnmi Onondaga Hill to Ox 
Creek and Oswego was put through this county 
in 1H07. It was six rods wide. The Rome and 
Oswego ])lank road was completed to the latter 

]l]ace 111 IMS, 




MH. AM) MHS. WIIITNF.VS TIOMK. (DunwUk.i 



MIt<. 11. \V. Wliri'NKV. 



'GEIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



71 




IHiiiwi.k. I'liDi. 



li W. I'llMlS S'l'dHlv 



Herbert H. Dobson wus Ixirn iu ('oxsackie, 
(ireene Co , X. Y., Nov. 25, IHiO. His futlier, 
William Dolisou, was for years a consi)ioiioii.s 
river ca])taiu on the Hudson, a great frienil of the 
late P. T. Barnuni, whose shows during the early 
period of that great showman's career Mr. Dobson 
carried up the river on his boats. In 1845 he 
moved his familr toConstantiawhereheiirst work- 
ed a farm and in 18f)2 or '3 pat up a canning factory 
which he ojierated several years. In that village 
Herbert s])ent his boyhood days attending schot)l 
and working in the factory, which he conducted 
for two years. Then he began the study of dent- 
istry in the ottice of Dr. 'S'au 'S'alkenburgh at 
Camden, N. Y. .-Vfterwards he practiced his pro- 
fessir)n in West Camden, Cleveland and Constau- 
tia and on Sept 1, ]8fi(!, ojjened an ofKce in this 
village over H. C. Peck's store where he success- 
fully practiced twenty years. Then he put in a 
stock of jewelry and watches, selling and repair- 
ing, and finally built the block where he opened 
Ills ]iresent store and greatly enlarged his stock of 
goods, to which he <adiled a line of ))icvcles. Af- 



ter his removal he sold 
out his dental practice. 
Mr. Dobson who has en- 
g;iged in>everal financial 
enterprises.in all of them 
controlled liy hiniself has 
made a success Ijy reason 
of his l)usiness ability 
and foresight. He in- 
vested in the Miller 
s])ring wagon company of 
wh'ch he was an incor- 
I loral ( ir and the secietai y . 
At line time he alone 
\ en ured into the man- 
ufacture (if wagons and 
made it pay him well. 
He is a ^lason of high 
standing having tilled all 
of the ofHc. s in the lilue 
lodge, except Master.and 
served as secretary of 
the C'hai^ter 21) years. His 
masoni'j con n e c t i o n s, 
making him widely 
known iu ma.souic circles, 
are the following: Mexico Lodge No.lUfi.F.it A.M. ; 
Mexico Chapter No. 135, K. A. M ; Central City 
Council No. 13, II. & S. M., and Lake Ontario 
('Ommandery No. 32, K. T. He is also a member 
of Media Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is a 
prominent republican in the councils of the party 
of the county and is chau-man of the republican 
town committee. On Dec. 18, 1807, he married 
Maria M. Thomas of Mexico, and they have one 
daughter, Florence. 

Special County Judg-es, (three years terms; 
years they .served) — 

Benjamin F. Rhodes, Pulaski, 1855-'7. 

Dennis D. McCoon, Schr.eppel, 1858-'(i(). 

De W'itt C. Peck, Mexico, 18til-'3. 

.Tames W. Fenton, Pulaski, 1864- '9; •82-'7. 

Andrew Z. McCarty, Piilaski, 1870-'2. 

John Preston, Pulaski, 1873-'5; '79-'81; '88-'l)3. 

Henry A. Brainard, Schroeppel, 187fi-'8. 

Irving G. Hubbs, Pulaski, 1894-'!)!). 

F. .1. Davis, Pulaski, 1900 — pi'esent incumbent. 




DOBPON s .lEWEI.KY STORE AND BICYCLE REPATK SHOP. (Huested.) 



H. H. DOBSON. (Borrowed.) 



72 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




.IIIHN C". TAVLOEt. (KoiT 



►wed Photo.) 
.1. C. TAY 



,()li. (HoistLil. Photo.) 



John C. Taylor was boru at Litchticld, Her- 
kimer Co., Feb. 25, 1831. Wheu a child of four 
years of age he came to JNIexico with his father, 
Diivifl P. Taylor, and speut the remainder of his 
Hfe here — a jieriod of over half a century. He 
was educated at Mexico academy and when grad- 
uated tauglit .school for several years. Oct. 2il, 
l.S.'')ti, he married .\nne.T. Hooker, of Sandy ('reek, 
and a short time after bought the place known at 
present as the Dewey farm then owned by his 
father. After several years si)ent in farming he 
moved into Uiwn. bought a store and engaged in 
the drug trade which business he followed until 
the time of his death which occurred Dec. (i, 1887. 
He was a man of particularly correct business 
habits and was largely identified with the growth 
of the town, holding many positions of trn.st and 
ies])onsibility. He was elected supervisor in 
ISns and re-elected in 18()9. He took great inter- 
est in educational matters being frank and out- 
spoken in giving voice to his convictions on all 
(piestions, taking his position boldly and daring 
to maintain it in the face of all oppositicm. 

John Curtiss Taylor, the ))resent owner of 
Taylor's I'hanuacy, was born in Mexico. 
April <!, 1874, and upon the death of his 
fathir, which occurred in 1887, bent his 
energies towards securing an education 
which would enable him to carry on the 
business .so, well established. In 1893 he 
graduati'd from the N'ew York College uf 
Pharmacy and came home prepared to take 
up the Ijusiness which in his absence had 
of necessity been in the hands of those not 
personally interested, anil under whose 
management the business had sadly depre- 
ciated. It took many months of hard work 
to regain the patronage the store lias so 
long enjoyed. Mr. Taylor made many 
changes in the store and adilecl new lines. 
.\ large, modern soila fountain was lulded ; 
the store was remodeled, large jtlate glass 
windows put in, a system of water through- Huoslel, PI 



out the liuilding, also a hot water system 
in.st!dled for heating the entire building. 
La^t year Mr. Taylor eipiipped a modern ice 
cream ])laut — large jiower freezers and ice 
ciusher, the power being furnished by a 21 
horse gasoline engine in the cellar, also ai>- 
l)aiatus fur turning out briik cream. To- 
day Mr. Taylor has a thoroughly up-to date 
])harmacy. fully stocked and ecpiipped for 
doing a large business. Besides drugs he 
handles a large line of paints, also Ijicycles 
and bicrcle sundries, camer.is and a com- 
plete stock of photographic sup|)lies. In 
ISO.-) Mr. Taylor nianied Mi-s Xellie Devel, 
of Sterling Valley, N. Y. Thej have fotir 
children — two sons and two daughters. 
Mr. Taylor is a prominent member of the 
local masonic order and in politics is recog- 
nized as a staunch rei.mblican. 

Memories o£ an Historic Hotel. — The 

oldest hotel now standing in the town of 
Mexico is at Union Squire. It was 
liuilt in 1823 by Judge Avery Skinner. 
During the entire life of this ancient Lostelry 
it has been usually well kei>t. Tiiere the 
weary traveler found a full larder and a jileas- 
ant home. There the beauty and chivalry of 
the town frequently ci>Dgregated. It has seen 
jolly times and famous old characters were once 
joviid patrons of its bai'. Before the days of the 
raib'oads i'. was the headquarters of the leading 
political men of the county. Being located near 
the geograi)hical center of the county, for a long 
period the county and district ccuiventions of the 
great political piirties were held there and its 
venerable walls have silently witnessed thi' 
making and breaking of many political slates. 
Mauy aspiring candidates have been there ([uietly 
beheaded in tlie political guillotine. In the good 
(rid ihiys balls receptions, lianquets and p 'litical 
conferences without number were hel<l at this 
house. The most famous politicians of the county 
at one tiuif made the old place more or less their 
head(iuarters and retort. When [lolitical matters 
were booming and conventions were being held 
such leading men as .\very Skinner, Orville Rob- 
inson, Wm. F. Allen, Delos DeWolf, Willard 
Johnson, A. P. (rrant, (i. .A. Dayton. I<. 1). Smith, 
J. B. Higgins, G. G. French," James A. Clark, 
.loel Turrill, D. P. Brewster, E. B. Tidcott, Peter 
Devendorf, O. H. Whitney, Starr CUark, Norman 




T.WI.nltS l)UI"G STOUH. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



73 



Rowe, Wm. Duer, Henry Fitzbugh, D. C. Liltle- 
jolni, A. Z. MoCarly, Elias Brewster and many 
(itlier iiromincnt men of the eoimty were at timer, 
fumiliar tignre.s in ami unmnd the old hotel. Here 
occurred over half a century ago that great .strug- 
gle for the nomination for Congress lietween Gen. 
R. C. Kenyon and Leander Babcock which finally 
terminated in the selection of Ml'. Bal)cook. This 
liattlii left more dead and wounded on the field 
than any jiolitical tight in the county before or 
.since. Nearly all the iirominent meu that were 
wont to gather at the old inn fifty years ago, 
moulding and directing the )iolitics of the county, 
have pas.sed over to the silent majority. The 
glorious uuctrtainties of politics and elections 
trouble them no longer. 

Aaron Killam was born in ITT^i in Temple. 
N. H. He was a descendant of (tov. John Eudi- 
cott also of Austin Killain who came to Weuhaui, 
Mass. , from his ancestral town of Killam, Eng., 
in the middle of the sevi nteenth century. He was 
the third settler in Peru, 
Vt. During his resi- 
dence there he was circuit 
judge of Bennington 
county for some time; 
also served several years 
a<! a member of the legis- 
lature. He came to Mex- 
ico, N. Y., in lSi>3, set- 
tling on a farm about a 
mile north of the village, 
which is now a \mit of thi' 
village corporation. The 
house which he built is 
still standing and the 
farm is still owned by one 
of the family. He was 
a man of rigid integrity ; 
public s])mted and de- 
voted to the welfare of 
the community and the 
church; a man of great 
]iride and strong person- 
ality. He died m 1.S50 
leaving two sons and two 
daughters of whom Clai'- 
inda Killam Aldrich and Aaron Killam make 
tlieir home in Mexico. 

Aaron Killam Jr. was born in Pern, \t., in 

ISOTaud came with his father to Mexico and help- 
ed to clear and till the farm. Later he marr ed 
Elizabeth Ames and seven children were Ixirn to 
them. Although residing on a farm, he emjilojed 
farm hands and followed his vocation that of 
draughtsman and mechanic, having built some of 
the finest churches and bridges of his lime. The 
present M. E. church and other buildings in the 
town testify to his good workmanship. At one 
time he owned largely of real estate having farms, 
and mdling property in this and adjoining towns 
He was essentially a self made man for hiw .school 
days ended at the age of Itj bvit he jjossessed an 
uuusually apt talent for mathematics and in his 
early hfe he formed classes in arithmetic, teach- 
ing them at night. One of his scholars was the 
late Virgil Douglass, who afterwards had the posi- 
tion of principal in the Oswego High school for 
years. In politics he was a staunch repul)!ieau 



and was ever ready to battle for what he consid- 
ered right in his pohtics or his religion. His ex- 
tensive reading and excellent memory coml)in(>d 
with his keen wit made him a strong adversary. 
.\ well balanced mind and good judgment gave 
him the unsought otlice of universal arbitrator in 
neighborhood controversies and the settling of es- 
tates his decisions lieing |iractical, just and gratu- 
itous. In religion he was a Universalist, like his 
father before him, and one of the ])rincipal factors 
in the building of that church here. In the latter 
part of his life he was a land surveyor; was village 
assessor several years and at the time of his death 
was serving his twenty-sixth year as town as.sessor. 
He died in 1S73. His youngest son John died 
while in the navy during the civil war. His liv- 
ing children are Lydia Dickerman of Oswego, 
Stratton Kill im of Syracuse. Lotlie Ames of 
Minnesota and Laura Kobeits of Mexico. 

Special Surrogates (three year terms; years 
they served) — 

William Sanders. Cleveland. 1H"i")-'7. 




Hueste.l. Pli. 



IXTKKInl! \Ii:\v (IF .1. C. TAVLOUS DRUG STUKE. 



Joshua B. Randall, Hastings, 1858-'();?. 
WUliam W. Scribner, Oswego, 18f54-"(>. 
Francis David, Schrteppel, 1867 



?2. 



William H. Kenyon, Schrtepiiel, 1873-'."). 

N. B. Smith. Pulaski, 187(i-'8. 

.Arvin Rice Jr., Fulton, 1879-'8-l. 

William W. Harmon, Oswego, 188'). 

(ico. \V. Harmon, Oswego, apji. vice W. W. 
Ib.rmon reiigned 1881). 

Louis W. Baker, Oswego, ISSS-".)."). 

Willi.im B. Baker, Con.stautia, 181M)-11> d. 

(,'layton I. Miller, Mexico, 1902 — priseut in- 
cumbent 

Four Surrogates were residents of the town 
of Mexico. Elias Breivster, the first in thetouuty, 
had his office in his house at Prattville. Jo.seph 
Torrey at Colo.sse erected a structure (about 1S38) 
— the first used for the purpose in the county — 
which is still standing. The other two were Or- 
ville Robinson and Timothy Skinner, whose 
offices were in this village. 



'GKIP'S" HISTOBICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Hiu-sti-ii, Phut. I. 

W. H. CSIioKN. 
LEOX C. OSnoliN. 



ILLIAN INGEKSOLL OSIloU 
(iAYU)UD F. OSnoKN 



W. H. Osborn was born in the town of Cape 
Vincent, Jetiersou Co., N. Y., Aug. 10, 1864. His 
father, Orlando F. Osborn, was a miller on a 
large scale aijd the son was brought np to ac(iuire 
fully all of the practical details of modern milling, 
in Hour as well as feed. When Ifi years old he 
went into the mill of P. A. Osborn & Co. at Dex. 
ter, N. Y., and served his api)rentice8hip there, 
and later in Farewell .t Khines' mill at Water- 
town, acquiring knowledge of the new Hour mill- 
ing process. In 1 Sill he bought tlie Hrvant mills 
at Evans Mills and in May, l.S'.tr>, th(> K. 11. Pitcher 
mills at Adams, X. Y. 
At al)out the same time 
he was also the owner of 
mills at Woodville, .Fef- 
fersou ('o. When in 
March, 181»H, he came to 
Mexico he disposed of 
all those |)ropei'tics and 
bought the large — I he 
Toronto mills of the es- 
tate of .\lmeron Thomas. 
This prop! rty, whicli had 
been in the hands of the 
latter forty years, h d 
within the past few years 
been improved, u laige 
and uiiu.-ually tine a d 
commodious stiuclure 
having been tlu-u but re- 
cently constructed — in 
IHIK;.' It is a budding 
()()x7."), with three Hoors, 
and sheathed in iron, 
with an iron roof. It is 
fully ecpiipped with the 
modem roller process for 



merchant and custom miUing, with a grind- 
ing capacity of ."lO baiTels of flour, and also 
has the iraju'oved buckwheat mill, a com- 
plete bolt«<l meal outfit and a Fosse M'f'g 
(;o.'s 86 inch atrition mill. The meal 
grinding capacity is 10,000 pounds an hour 
The storage (rapacity is 25,000 bushels of 
Kiain and 25 cars of feed. The mill is 
lighted with a 2.")0 incandescent light 
dyiiuino. Water jMiwer is used, exclusively, 
(•apable of generating 201) horse power. It 
is held by a stone dam fifty feet long and 
lias a head of fourteen feet. Across the 
stream no« used only for storage, is another 
iiaU. 40x50 feet with two tioors fully 
e(|uipped for grinding feed and buckwheat. 
Sometime afti r purchasing the big mill — .\ 
mill as it is called — Mr. O.sborn bought the 
other, known as 15 mill. This gives him 
the control of milling in Mexico and the 
exclusive ownership of the water power in 
this village on the Little Hahnon. He is 
also the largest owner of the mills at Valley 
Mills. Madison Co., X. Y., operated by his 
father, under the name of W. H. O.sborn & 
Co. ^Ir. Osborn is a gi-eat admirer of tine 
horses and owns .several. He has large and 
finely appointed stables. By his tii'st wife, 
decea.sed, Mary C. Casler. Mr. Osb(U-n has 
two children, Leon C. and Gaylord F. In 
I HOI he married Lilhan IngersoU. 

Mill B dates as far 1 lack as 1805 or'OR, when 
John Morton then running a saw mill there 
put into one corner of the building a gi-ist mill. In 
1812 it ])assed into the hands of Mathias Whitney 
and years later became the jiroperty of Almeron 
Thouiius. Mill A stands on the site of Bazalael 
Thayer's wool carding mill erected in 1825. Al- 
meron Thomas converted the property into a 
grist mill prior to 1801. 

Oneida Lake is 20 miles long and from 4 to 5 
miles wide and contains 57.000 acres. It is 124 
feet higher than Lak<> ( )ntario and its gi'eatest 
depth is 00 feet. 




(iPiidiiN'.s itK.-^inr.Nir.. 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



75 




Imnwick, I'liot. 



\V. H. lISliOUNS Mil. I, A. 



Surrogates (dutc of ajjpointmeut) — 

Elias Brewster, Mexico, March 21, ISlli. 

Abraham P. Voslmrgh, Fnlton, Feb. 17, ISIT. 

Orris Hart, New Haven, Ai.ril 8, IHl'.l; Nov. :i, 
184.5. 

Chester Haydeu, Oswego. 1821. 

.lames A. Davis, Pulaski, March 28, 182H. 

.Tosepli W. Helme, Pulaski, March 27, 1820. 

Orville Robinson, Mexico, ;\Iarch .5, 1831). 

Joseph Torrev. Mexico, Feb. St, 18:i8. 

Joel Turrill, Oswego, Feb. 8, 184:^. 

Wm. P. Curtiss, Fulton, Oct. 1, bS4(i. 

County .Judge performed Surrogate's duties 
1847-'.j2. Then came the following surrogates in 
four year terms until 1872 (since whi<^h time the 
term has been si.x years), and the years they 
served: — 

James Brown, Oswego, bs.'ii-'o. 

Amos (J. Hull. Fulton. ]8r)(;-'G3. 

Timothv W. Skinner, Mexico, 18)i4-'7; '72-'83. 

Henry L. Howe, Sandy Creek, 18C8-'71. 

Francis] )avid, Phcenix, 
18S4-'95. ^ 

Sheldon B. Mead, Ful- 
ton, 181M) — present in- 
cumbent. 

County Judges — Un- 
til 1847, the Court of 
('ommon Pleas consisting 
of a iiresidiug Judge and 
two associates served as 
couuty court. The con- 
stitution of 1846 substi- 
tuted county Judges. 
'Ihe foDowiug are the 
Common Plea.fndges and 
dates of their appoint- 
ment (See Associate Jus- 
tices in another article) : — 
Barent Moonev, Grauby, 
March 21, 1816; John 
(irant, jr., Oswego, June 
1, 1820'; Joel Turrill, Os- 
wego, April 2, 1828; 
David P. Brewster, Oswe- 
go, April 1.5, 1833; Sam- 



uel B. Ludlow, Oswego, 
'Slay 11, 1841. Then 
came the county Judges 
and the years they served 
(the terms were foui- 
years):— Orla H. Whit- 
ney, Mexico, appointed 
June, 1847, elected 1848. 
Ransom H. Tvler, Ful- 
tcm, 1851-T); '(;4-7. Syl- 
vanus C. Huntiiiglon, 
Pula.'-ki, 185()-'l). John 
(!. Churcliill, Oswego, 
186l)-'3. CyrusWhitney, 
Mexico, 1868-71; re- 
e'ect«d from Oswego 
(the first six year term 
incumbent) 1872-'7. 
Newton W. Nutling, Os- 
wego, 1878'-83. Maurice 
L, Wright, Me.xico, 1884- 
'i); re-elected 1880, seiz- 
ing until elected Supreme 
Court Judge in Nov., 
18i)l. James R. O'Gor- 
luHU, ai)puiuted vice Wright, Dec 7, 1891 to 
ser\e until .Tan. 1, 1893. Merrick Stowell, elected 
Nov., 1892, serving 1893 and continuously to the 
present time. 

The Areopagus Club of Mexico business 
men was incorporated Oct. 15, 1896. This organ- 
ization has a lai'ge membership and occupies two 
floors in the Baker building on South Jetierson 
street. The original quarters were in an old 
builaing on the same ground which about a year 
or two after the club was organized burned down. 
The suite is one of the l)est for club purposes that 
is usually found in a small town. It is furnished 
throughout elaborately and in good taste, with 
reading and reception parlors and card and billiard 
rooms. Here are filed iill of the popular- i)ublica- 
tions of the day. George W. Bradner, the 
first president, hiis continued in that office 
ever since. George .Johnson is the secretary and 
Willis L. Morgan the treasurer. 



J^._ 




I>innviok. Plinti 



\V. !I. USItOHN'S MILL B. 



'GKIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




llurslfil. Photo. TlIK liiiVKDiH' i; I M c '.Vll i iN. 

Dr. C. \V. Iiad»;i.\. .1. 

Mrs. Clarii .\. I>;n'is. Si-ffftai-\ . 

I!. II. I!:ikrr. I'll >i.l<-nl. 

MEXICO ACADEMY. 



For sevcniy-tive Tears Mfxieo Acmleniy lias 
Lad an houorahle recorcl as au ai-adeniif school of 
the liiglu'st fji'ii'le. 

As early as 1820 a high .school was fonui'il in 
Mexico village wilh .Tolin Howard us teacher and 
Laura Fish as assistant. In 182(5 this school was 
reor^janized us an academy and regularly iucorpo- 
rated liy an act of the legislatni-e wh'c-h named 
Chester Haydon, Nathaniel lintler, Mo.scs 1". 
Hatch, Peter Pratt. David R. Dixon, Seth Si-vc r- 
ance, John .\. Paine, James .\liel, Orris Hart, 
Hastings Cnrtis.s, Wm. W'iUianis, Oliver A>er, 
Henry Williams, Elias Brewster, Saranel Emery, 
(ieorge B. Davis, ^Ia.s<iu W. Sontliworth and 
.Vvery Skinner its first Hoard of Trustees, illias 
Brewster was named as the first i)resi<lenl and 



Avery Skinner as the first 
secretary of the hoard. 
Its haptisnial name was 
Rensselaer ( )swego Acad- 
emy, luit in 184.") the name 
was changed liy an act of 
the legislature to Mexico 
.\cademy. 

Many of those enrolled 
among the honorable of 
the earth have here re- 
cei\ed their rmlimental 
tnlucation. The |inl)>it, 
the bar, th medical [iro- 
fession. tlie army and the 
business exchange, each 
and all have many rei re- 
sentalives of the old acad 
emy. Within the recol- 
lection of many now liv- 
ing, this institution has 
furnislied forty-one mem- 
bers of the legislature of 
different states", fourteen 
mayors, six sui)reme 
court judges, two major 
generals, three governors, 
many noted j)uli>it ora- 
tors, besides a long list of persons rei>resenting 
all the industrial pursuits of life, a list which 
w ill challenge the admiration of any community. 
In this short article we can only mention a few 
of the names of those who have been in some 
way connected with this school: Hon. Joel T. 
lleadley and Prof. J. I). Steele, two well known 
authors, were early teachers; idso Prof. Watson, 
the celebrated elocutionist, .\mong the principals 
of the si'hool we readily recall Dr. Geo. (1. Hap- 
good with all his ;;plendid aci|airenicuts, and also 
tlie Ihiished classical scholar, Rev. K. K. Hragdou. 
Prof. John R. French, late ofSyracu.se I'niversity, 
was long a teacher here, as was also Hon. S. M. 
Coon, of < >sKvego. N. Y. Andrew Parsons, once 
the governor of Michigan, and his brother, Luke 
Parsons, the late lieutenant-governor ri the same 
state, will be remembered as early students 
Charles R. Skinner, State Sup't of Public In- 



\V. I.a 
.Mis 




Ililrsliil, I'liotd. ■rilK. VAcn.TV MH.XICii IMIll.li' SCIlllol.. 

iKroiii li-l'l tiirliflu ill tt i-livlis iM-uliiniMiflep row] Klla (i. I'i-lili\ Mary 
Mary A. Illrdscye. Klorunce II. 'I'MVaiiv, .Maml S. Uk-lianls, Mary Sceley, 
.Icnnlf N. link r. Marv K. Vltzr' raid. 



Ilakur, LeKoy C. Flu.vil. 
A. H. Norton, Piliicliml. 



GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



77 



atruction, and Lieut. -Gov. Allen 0. Beach. l)otli 
of Watt-rtown, were educated here. The late 
.Tndge (ien. F. Comstock of SyracuFe, attended 
this school, and the same is true of Judge John F. 
Kinney of San Diego, CjJ., who presidtd at the 
Semi-Centenuial Reunion of the teachers and 
students in 1S7(!. 

That fearless anti slavery champion, Asa S. 
Wing, was here k'ducated. One of his contempo- 
raries in the great struggle against slavery was the 
Rev. Thomas A. Weed an active trustee of this 
institution, and to him perhaps more than to any 
one ]>erson we are ludelited for the enlarged school 
edifice liudt in ls.").">. He laliored niuht and day 
in working up imlilic opinion in favor of rebuild- 
ing. Among the names of old students which 
occur to us at this moment are Henrv Kendall, 
D. D., R. H. Tyler, Rev. P. C. Headley, V. C. 
Douglass, Rev. 'a. S. Walker, the Whitn'eys, the 
Kelloggs and the Brewsters. Dr. George P. 



never faltered in its noble work. In deference to 
the present educational system of the state, which 
favors schools under piiblic control rather than 
those supported wholly or jiartly by private funds, 
in 189.5 the \dllage schools of Mexico were com- 
bined with the academy into an Academ'c Union 
School and the aca lemy building is now used 
for the grammar and academic depai'tments. 

The following is a list of i>riacipal-i of tlie acad- 
emy with dates of service of each: 
Mason W. Southworth 
Eliai-aph Dorchester 

White 

Brooks 

Shepard 

Orla H. Whitney 
Mason W. Southworth 
Rev. tJeorge G. Hai)good 



Benjamin 1. Diefendorf 
Rev. Russell Whiting 
William H. (iillespi,. 



Julv, 



18:>(! 
1H27 
1828 
1829 
is:!i).:;i 
bs:« 
183:5-3-i 
1835-38 
1838-40 
1841-42 
1812-43 




Duiiwick, I'hutu. 



11112 ME.VICH ITIJLR- .'^CllODL AXU ACADKMV. 



Mains, an agent of the Methodist Book Concern, 
is a product of this institution. 

The origiual academic building was built of 
brick some years before 182fi. The bricks were 
made in the immediate vicinity, the clay being 
mixed by the treading of osen. As the school out- 
gi'ew the accommodations aftbrded. in lS3lia large 
three-story wooden structure was added in fiout 
and iidjoining the old brick building and from this 
time the academy assumed a position of state im- 
portance. 

As the years went on need of greater facilities 
was felt and in 18.55 the present substantiid edi- 
fice was erected on the old site. In 1893 au 
addition of a military system of dLseiijline was 
adopted under the inspection of the War Depart- 
ment and insti'uction in military tactics given by 
Col. Richards, an officer of the United States 
Armv. From first to last the institution has 



Rev. George G. Hajigood 

William H. Gillesine 

E. E. E. Bragdon 

Aimer Davison 

William H. GUlespie 

John R. French 

J. Dorman Steele, Julv, 18.59, to St 

Bradford F. Potter, Sept. 18()1 to J 

Rev. A. B. Dunlap 

Rev. S. Hawley Adams 

William "SI. McLaughlin 

Rev. William H. Reese 

S. Mortimer Coon 

Charles E. Havens 

James M. Giflbrd 

Rev. John H. Butler 

Henry R. Fanchcr 

Warren More 

Frank B. Severance 

Melzar C. Richards 



I'l- 
ulv 
Julv 



1843-45 

1845-4(i 

1840-47 
1847-50 

]85"-55 
1 8.5.5-. 59 

bsi;i 
bst;2 
bsi;2-()3 
18()3 (15 
18t;5-7'l 
1S7II-72 
1872-74 
bS74-7S 
1878 SI 
1881-82 
1882-88 
1888-90 
1890-93 
1893-95 



"GRIP'S' UISTOlilCAL SOUA'ENIR 01' MEXICO. 




i.oris 


nE(,iin.r,Aiir)s ueside 


Avery W. Skinner 


1835-99 


F. R. Parker 


1H99-1900 


A. H. Norton 


1900-1903 


The followiuf;; is a list of all the presidents of 


the Boiu-d of Trustees of 


Mexico Academy since 


it.s organization: 




Elias Brewster 


1826 


Jonathan (xoodwin 


1833-35 


Orville Robinson 


1835-37 


Avery Skinner 


1837-38 


Orville Robinson 


1838-40 


Peter Chandlor 


18i0-13 


Benjamin E. Howcii 


1843-47 


Charles Benedict 


1847-48 


Henry Webh 


1848-49 


Charles Benedict 


1 849-50 


David Goit 


1850-51 


Benjamin E. Bowen 


1851-55 


Calvin (Joodwin 


1855-50 


Luke ]). Smith 


185IJ-57 


Marlon Xewoll 


1857-(i0 


James S. (Uiandler 


18(i0-(i2 


Benjamin E. Bowen 


18i;2-(13 


Levi Downing 


18(i3-ti4 


Benjamin S. Stone 


18(;4-(;5 


Clark 1). Suell 


1 8(i5-ti() 


(leorge ({. Freneli 


18(;(i-(!7 


Seabiu-y A.jTuller 


18(i7-(>8 



Cyrus Wliitney 1808-09 
Thomas A. Weed 1809-70 

David D. Becker 1870-71 
Ilenrv C. Peck 1871-74 
David I). Becker 1874-7K 
I5enjamin S.Stonel878-95 
BohertH. Baker 1895-190:', 



Supreme Court — Os- 
wego county together 
with Onondaga, Jett'er- 
son, Oneida, Herkimer 
and Lewis constitute the 
Fifth Judici.ll District. 
The present Judges anil 
expiration of term (in 
each ca.se on Dec.31) are: 
William S. Andrews of 
Onondaga county, term 
expires 1913; Maurice L. 
Wright of Oswego, 19J5: 
Frank H. Hiscock. Svra- 
PP, cuse, 1910; PardouC. Wil- 

liams, Watertown, 1911: 
Peter 15. McLennan, Syracuse, 1900; William I'.. 
Scripture, Rome, 1909; Watson M. Rogers, Water- 
town, 191(). Oswego county has had two other 
rejiresentatives on the Supreme Court bencli. 

States; Origin of Names: — 

Maine — From the province of Maine. France; 
in compliment of Henrietta, (pieen of France un- 
der Charles I; part nf Ma.ss, until 1820. Admitted 
into statehood March 15. 1820 

New Hampshire— Origiuall 7 Laconia; after 
HamiLshire, Eng. ; named by John Mason one of 
the original crown grantees to this tract, at the 
time it bcL-ame a province in 1070. One of the 
original thirteen states in the union. 

Vermcmt — Originally p rt of Ham))!shire grants; 
from (ireen mountains (French Verd Mont); 
nameil by convention of statehood wlu'n declared 
a stati' indei)enilenf in Januarv 1777. -\dmitted 
March 4, 1791. 

]\Iassachusetts - In ICiiglish signifying the coun- 
try about the gi'eat hills— lus applied to Massachu- 
setts bay. Oue of the original thirteen states. 

Rhode Island— .\fter a fancieil reseaiblance to 
the I.sle of Rhodt\s in the Mediterranean (ancient 
Levant); first settlement in iO-iO cidled I'rovidence 
Plantation; next in 1038. Rhode Island IMantation. 
Original thirteen. 




J. U. Coe. 



('(lie \ IKiGoltdd.M .s Mi:.\T .MAKKlOl'. 



L*. I.. llo>fiiboom. 



'GRIP'S" HISTOKICAL SOUVENHl OF MEXICO. 



79 




HiK-sIi-.l. Flioto. 

THK MEXICO INUEPKXDEXT STAFF. 



ludependeut Staff - 
Toil i-ow: Mrs. Ella K. 
Baker, Clayton Sampson ; 
middle row: (ieorge I. 
PettinKill, John Berrv ; 
Clarence A. Hosford. 



Georgia — Honor of George II of England ; set- 
tled in 1732 1)Y Gov. Oglethorije. Original thir- 
teen. 

Florida — Land of flowers; also in token of 
Spanish easter celebration Pascua Florida, feast 
of flowers named by Ponce de Leon from Spain 
in 15112; settled in 1(!20; ceded by Spain to the 
United States in 1S19; formed as territory IS'iii. 
Admitted March 3, IS-t."). 

Alabama — Creek word, "The laud of liest;" 
part of the territory of Missis.sippi nnt 1 LSI 7. 
Admitted Dee. 14, is'ii). 

Mississippi — Choctaw, "Long River,'' and 
Natchez, "The Father of Waters"; part of Louis- 
iana. Admitted Dec. 1(1, 1817. 

Louisiana — After Louis XIV; celled by Xapo- 
leon April 1803. Admitted Apr. 8, 1812. " 

Arkansas — Indian word Kansas, "Smoky 
Water," prefixed by the Fiench Arc, "a bow", ap- 
plied generally for the course of the river ]\Iiss- 
issip|ii; from Missouri in 1819. Admitted 1H'M>. 

Tennesse — Indian, "The River witli the Big 
Bend", laken from North Carolina. Admitted 
June 1, 1796. 

Kentucky — Indian "At the Head of the River". 



Connecticut — After 
MoheganQuon-eh-ta-cut, 
a long river. Original 
thirteen. 

New York — After the 
Duke of York brother to 
Charles II, to whom it 
\vas granted and who ob- 
tained possession from 
the Dutch in Kilil. Ori- 
ginal thirteen. 

New .Tersey — After the 
Island of .Tersey in the 
British channel of which 
Sir George Carteret, by 
whom tiie state was 
named, was governor; he 
was one of the pro] irieti irs 
who purchased it in liWlt. 
Original thirteen. 

I'eunsj'lvjinia — Penu's 
Woods; province granted 
\Yilliam Penn in ]il81. 
< )rigiual thirteen. 

Delaw are — F ro m 
Thomas West Lord Dc la 
Wair; part of Pennsyl- 
vania until 17711. < )ngi- 
nal thirteen. 

Maryland — Alsouamt d 
in honor of Queen Hen- 
rietta Marie; fo iinded 
lt)32 by Lord B llimore 
a< an asylum for the 
Catholics'. O r igi ral 
thirteen. 

Virginia — In honor (if 
Queen Elizabeth, the 
virgin — unmarried 
ipieen ; founded by gntnt 
to London Co. in IfiOfi. 
Original thirteen. 




lomtLSy of .Mrs. Sill. 

MKS. M. D. SILLS CKADLE CLASS, M. E. CHCKCH. 
Marion Estelle Butts, Haroiri Fri deriek, Malile Dunniiifr, Jesse Carlyle Smith. 
M. Bessie Sampson, Glen Everts Walton, Marion Frioicis Cno, 

Lillian IriiH- Gass, Henry J. Ballard. 
Gordon Harold Cusaek, George Stevens Jordan, Kenneth Miller Hoose. 



80 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVEXIK OP MEXICO. 




lniiiwuk.rii.it... i;i:i iiici; i;. iKi.Nriis ui'.si iii;n( i'., 

1.S17 
Apri 



Api)lieil to the va.st tnict (if fouiitn' nest of tbi- 
.Mlf'gany mountains. Admitti'd .Tune 1, ITil'J. 

Oliio — Sliawuoe.se t'oi' "Beautiful Kivev": part 
of ;lie west ceileil to the feJend government by Vir- 
tjinia and Connecticut. Admitted Xov. 9, 1.S02. 

Michigan — Tudiiin for fish wier or traji — the 
laud of the trappers; part of Iniliana wh'U given 
territorial government in l.'^05. Admitted .Tan 
2i), LSST. 

[ndiana — Land of the Indian.s; when at the 
time of ten-itorial government the liostiles had re- 
treated; territory May I.SDO; state JJec. 11, l.Sli;. 

Illinois — After the trilie of that name, indicat- 
ing in the Indian tongue "ineu" as compared with 
those Indian tribes wlio ha.l been driven away 
and were designated as women. Taken from In- 
diana for territory of Illinois in l.HOlt. Adinitted 
Dec. 3, 1S18. 

Wisconsin — Indian I'oi' Wdd IiUshingChanu.il — 
the strait between the lakes. Territorv IS ill. 
State May 2i), 1.S4.S. 

Missouri — After that river, iudicating muddy 
river. Part of Louisiana. 
Territory LSI 2. State 
Aiig. 10," 1.S21. 

Kansas — ".Smoky Wa- 
ter", pwt of Louisiana; 
territory ]8,")-t. State 
.Ian. 2!), l.Sni. 

Nel aask a — Part o f 
Louisiana; territorv l.S.")-l. 
State Mar. 1H{;7. 

Nevada— Part ofljcuiis- 
iaiia; territorv Mar. l.Sli I. 
State 1K70. 

Iowa- "Drowsy ( )n< s"; 
part of Louisiiina teiri- 
tory. State Dee. 2.S, l,S4i;. 

M nnesota —(Mo u d y 
w,.le' ; part of Lou siana 
lerriloiv. State Miiv 11. 

l.S")H. 

Texas — Part of Mexico. 
Kepublic l.s;^i;. Annexed 
March i;, lH-1.-). 

(California -Stale Sept. 
il, 18511. iHinwi.k, I'hiii. 



Oregon — River of the 
west. Teri-itorv 1.S4H. 
State Feb. 14. l.S.V.1. 

American Wars. — 

King Phillip's, ]()7."); King 
William's, ItiKO; Dutch, 
Ui'.t:^; (^ueen Anne's, 17-14, 
French and Indian, Ko."); 
Revolution, April 18, 
177.") iLexiugton fight) to 
.Tau. 20, l.S,S:i (treaty at 
Paris I :ili.s,4](l men in 
service; Northwest In- 
dian wars, Sept. I'.t.n'JO, 
extending five years, 
.s,!t,s^ meu; French war, 
.Inly !l, 1798, lasting two 
years,4,.3!t8 men; Trijioli, 
."luue 10, 1801, 4 years, 
^.'■i'iO meu; Creek Indian, 
.July 27, 18l;i, 1 year, 
Ki,781 men; (Jreat Britan, 
June 18, 1812, 2 years, 8 
months, 57(i,()22 meu; 
Seminole Indian, Xov. 20, 
men; Black Hawk Lidian, 



1 year, 7,!»11 

20, 1.H:^1, 1 year, ti months, li, 4(1.5 meu; Cher- 
okee Indian, 1886, 1 year, 0,494 men; Creek 
Indian, May 5, 1830, 1 year, .'> months, 18,418 
men; Florida Indian, Dec. 23, 18?."), 8 years, 
41,122 men; Aroostook Indian, LSliS. 1 year, 1,.")00 
men; Mexican, .^ijril 14, 1.84(1, 2 years. 8 months, 
101,282 meii; Apache, Navajo and Utidi Indian, 
1849, (1 years, 2,501 meu; Seminole Indian, 1.8511,2 
years, ,!,(;87 nuni; Civil war, .\pril 12, IsiU. 4 
years, 2,772,408 men —about .S00,000 confederate 
troops. 

The Strawberry Industry of the town is of 
great importance, Mexico being cue of the main 
.shii)])ing points in the county. The soil is adapt- 
ed for bi-rry culture giving the fruit a size and 
flavor whicli brings the best prices in the market. 
INIost of the farms in the town grow berries. At 
times in a favor.ible seiu'ou tliero are as many as n 
hundred and lifly tcaas drawn u)) at the cars that 
are bi'ing loaded in a single day. 




w. w ki.Ni;,si.i:\' s I!i;siI)1:n('K. 



'GKlP'iS" HISTOIUCAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



81 




itiirrowrd I'hoti 



KEV. T. A. WEED. 



Thomas Allen Weed was born iu North Stiiiii- 
ford. Cnun., Oct. l.j, 1817, and was .son of Pliilo 
iiud Abigail Weed. With his parents he moved 
to .Teflerson Co., N. Y., where he lived until the 
age of nineteen. His early studies were inirsued 
under the late .Judge Mullin of the Supreme 
Court. He graduated fromOberlin College, Ohio, 
in 1813. The same year he married Lydia Mat- 
thews, a native of Mexico, N. Y , whose actjuaint- 
an e he formed at college, she being a student in 
the same institution. She is still living with her 
daughter Mrs. Benedict, at Fulton, N. Y. Through 
the intlueuce of his brother. Rev. Edward Weed, 
he entered the ministry. He pursued the full 
course of thLolngioal study in Union Seminary, 
X. Y., and in 1841) was licensed to preach. While 
in the seminary he acti d as private secretitry to 
the well known Lewis Tapiian, receiving for his 
services snfHcieut for his maintenance. When a 
student he lectured some months on Temperance 
and Slavery under the aiLspices of the State Soci- 
ety. He had then what distinguished him through 
life — a trenchant way of making his iwiut-s and 
was keen in his satire. In 1817 he Ijecame the 
pastor of the Presbyteriim church in Mexico. The 
salary was then only $400, one man (Peter Chan- 
dler) signing $150 of the amount. In a few- 
months Peter Chandler, the chief supporter of the 
church, died. Mr. Weed was not discouraged, 
however, but threw his soul info the work of 
bvi'lding up the church and his labors were not in 
\ain. In a few years the dilapidated old church 
edifice was transformed into an attractive house 
of worship and the membership was so increased 
as to requu-e the enlargement of the sanctuary by 
au addition of one-third. His work in Mexico 
zealously continued for nearly twenty -three years 
and he left the church with a membership nearly 
three times as lai-ge and a far greater increase in 
influence, power and property than when he came 
to it. Touching life as he did at all points, and 
the champion of every good cause, he did scarcely 
if any less for the community at large. He lab- 
ored in the pulpit and out of it, night and 
day, for the re-building of the Mexico Academy 



and worked equally hard in the struggle to bring 
the raih'oad to this village. In the social and re- 
hgious affairs of this vicinity no man of his tinu; 
had a greater influence and his services were iu 
great demand upon almost idl public occasions. 
He was an extensive traveler, a keen observer, 
with a mind stored with incidents racy and rich 
and a remarkable readiness to relate them with 
inimitable .skill. He was never nonplused, never 
at a loss for the wittiest and most telling reply. 
As a delightful and instructive companion he was 
w ithout a peer. After leaving ^lexico he preach- 
1(1 at Scottville, N. Y., for twelve years. He died 
at Saratoga in 1882. His funerel was held among 
his old people at Mexico, conducted by their pas- 
tor, Kev. Geo. Bayless, assisted by his life-long 
friend, the late Rev. A. Pai'ke Burgess. He was 
buried, as was his desire, iu Mexico village cem- 
etery . 

Dr. Charles E. Heaton was born in the vil- 
lage of Elbridge, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Xov. t>, 
1837. He was educated in Syracuse high schools 
and Cortland academy. He read medicine with 
Dr. David Dunham, at Bridgeport, Madison Co., 
X. Y.. and with Dr. V. A. Baker, of Mexico, N. 
Y.. graduathig from the Medical and Surgical 
Uuivei-sity of Philadelphia. Pa., in May, 1865, 
and from the medical department of the Univer- 
sity of Buffalo in 1877. He jjracticed medicine 
in Mexico from 18(_i7 to 1888— just twenty -one 
years, and iu Baldwinsville for the past fifteen 
years where he still resides. Dr. Heaton was 
miirried in 18()0 to Sarah A. (iates of Mexico. X. 
Y., who was a daughter of Robert dates, of Fern- 
wcMxl, X. Y., and also the adopted daughter of 
Sanlius K. Bixll of Mexico, X. Y. Two children 
were born to them, Hon. Willis E. Hea'on of 
Hoosick Falls, X. Y. . who is now .Judge of the Sur- 
rog.ate's Court at Troy. X. Y.. and Dr. Earld. 
Heaton. who succeeds'his father in the practice of 
medicine at his home iu Baldwinsville. In re- 
ligion Dr. Heaton is a Methodist — an official mein- 
ber for fully 30 years, and a classleader for ju.st 10 




BoiTowtd Photo. 



PR. r, E. HE.VTON. 



H-1 



'GKIPS • HISTORICAL SOUVENIK OF MEXICO. 




Uuiiwick. Pluttd. 



,i;i.i..\ - kljiiii;n' i -\m> i.i \ ri."! 



years in the Mexico and Biildwinsville churches. 
He is also prominent in masonry being a member 
of tlie F. & A. M., and Eoyid Arcli tUiapter at 
Baldwinsville, N. Y,, and a member of the Miisonic 
Veterans Association of Syracuse, N. Y., also a 
member of the Ououdaga Medical Society and 
a member of the board of trustees of the village 
of BiJdwiusville. 

Luther Jay Clark, manufacturer of boilers 
and portable engines which are sold largely in the 
New England .states, bought the Beebe foundry 
in ISTil and has been carrying on that industry, 
built up to its present dimensions by his own 
business ability, ever since. His father Joshua B. 
Clark, one of the earl^T settlers in Mexico came to 
this town in 1824 and settled on the place where 
Whitehead now lives. His farm also included 
what is known as the Bellchambcr jilace. T^ater 
on he sold the latter piece of ]iropcrty and in 
l.H')2 traded the rest of it for wild land near 
Chicago. He spent several ;vears clearing his 
land, after first coniiug hero, and then lie built a 



dam and saw mill on 
Sidraon creek, the site of 
the present electric light 
plant. The dam and 
mill were among the 
earl est in this part of the 
tiwn. In 18r):5abu.siness 
euter])ri.se took hiui to 
DavenjKJrt, la., where he 
remained three and a 
half yeais, when he re- 
turned to Illinois and set- 
tled down and improved 
the wild land near Chi- 
cago. Jay. bora Xov. 
13, 1842, was at the time 
his home was moved to 
Davenport eleven years 
old. The family were 
living in their new 
Illinois home when, in 
181)1, he enlisted in the 
;Wd Illiuois infantry. 
Through the remarkable 
lieriod of fo\ir and a half 
years continuous service 
in some of (he most active and dangerous bat- 
tles of the American rebellion. Mr. Clark ])a.ssed 
— a participant in the Woodiest lights in the cam- 
paigns of the western armies. He went out in the 
first campaign of Illinois troops which during 
18(')1 was in Missouri, and returned only after the 
last Union victory was won, being witli his regi- 
ment marching from Sfobile to Montgomery, 
.\la., when the tiist news of Lee's suriender 
reached his regiment through Ijee's own me.i sent 
home on parole granted at Appomattox. In 18(i2 
^Ir. Clark went through the cumjiaigns in Mis- 
souri, .Arkansas, Louisiana, Ktntucky, Mississippi 
an<l Tennes.see and in ]8i;;i was in the army that 
captured Vicksburg —and was afterwards ut the 
capture of .Taekson, Miss. Then he was at New 
Orleans, and the succeeding winter in Texas and 
along the Mexican gulf coast. In February 18(54 
he re enlisted and during the balance of the year 
was in the Louisiana campaigns. In 18(!.") he was 
through the gulf states and in Oecembcr of that 
vear was mustered out at Vicksburg. U])on his 
return to the north Mr. Clark lived several years 
in Indnuia, traveling in Mieliigan :in<l the west. 




CL.VKKS KcHNIlltV .\NIl M.MIIIM: SIliM'. ;l)iiiiwkk.) 



I,. .1. (i.AKK, ,i)ld I'hcitn, lakeli is.sii) 



'GBIP'B" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



83 




K. H. UAKEKS HEf^lUEM i:. 

an'l iluiiug that time taking up a homestead in 
Nebraska. On Nov. 4, 1874, be came to Mexico 
ami was miu-ried to Amelia E. DueU of South 
Mexit-o. They resided in the west about six 
years, until he returned to Mexico in 1879 and 
bought the foundry. His brothers and sisters, 
all deceased, were Newcomb. Annis (Mrs. M. W. 
Barrett), Ahiieda, Lucy and Francene. Hisehild- 
ren are Mr.s. Jennie E. Gass of Me.xico, Allie 1). 
and Elbert J. Clark who are living at home. 

The Great Indian Trail between Lake On- 
tario auil the village of the Onondaga Indians — 
tlie capital of the confederacy of the Irotjuois — 
(wo centuries before aiiv white settler came to 
Mexico, i^assed over the present tites of the vil- 
lages of Mexico and Colosse. In 1654 it wd.s fol- 
lowed by the Jesuit priest, Le Moine, accoin]ian- 
ied liy an Indian, who was bound for the Onondaga 
country as a missionary, and the following year 
by other Jesuit priests (See sketches of "Jesuit Le 
Moine at Mexico" and "Jesuits at Colosse"). The 
French coming from 
^lontreal were accus- 
tomed to follow that 
trail. They travelled by 
water to Salmon river, 
(Selkirk), where tlie trail 
liegan. With the wmd- 
iugs it made the distance 
ttj Colosse was about l.j 
miles. Like all Indian 
trails it puisued the l>est 
course to facihtate walk- 
ing, turning here and 
there as the nature of the 
ground reipiired and to 
{>et to water. North of 
the East Hill it turned 
west and struck Little 
Salmon river about where 
Main street now cro.s.ses 
the stream, which it fol- 
lowed for some distance 
then struck across to 
Colosse. From there the 



same tortuous course wa.s 
pursued to the Oneida 
river and beyond to On- 
ontague ( Indian Hilli two 
miles south cif Manlius. 
One of the camping 
])laces was on the stieam 
near the jirestnt farm of 
(t. a. Daws, which the 
trail traversed from the 
east. The other camping 
jilace was at ('iili)sse. 

Jesuits at Colosse. 

The Jesuits, Chaumont 
and Claude Dablon, en 
route to the cjstles of the 
Onondaga Indians, left 
Ouebee, Sept. 19, lti55. 
They were the third party 
I if white peojjle to sleep 
and breakfa-st in the then 
virgin wilderness — now 
the village of Mexico (See 
"Chaniplain at Mexico;" 
and "Jesuit LeMoine at Mexico"). On Oct. 2(5, 
the party passed from the St. LawTence liver on 
to Lake ( )ntario. On the;29th the Jiarty arrived at 
Otiatangue (Salmon river) which was then the great 
outijost of the Iroquois Indians and their meeting 
place with the French. This place was also known 
as La Famine (Famine Bay.the [place] of Famine). 
On the 3(lth the party "left the water and jn-e- 
pared our over land trip to Onontague [Onon- 
daga]" by the "great Indian trail" (see sketch 
on another page) ; but it was the next day that 
they actually started— a wild, jjicturescjue party 
of whites and Indians. Fifteen miles from Sal- 
mon river by the side of a brook (now the site 
of the village of Colosse) they encamjied. 

Postmasters of Mexico in the order named 
were Itawscm A. Butler, St aiT Clark, S. B. Barnes, 
John J. Lamoree, La Fayette Alfred, (ieorge 1*. 
.Johnson, George D. Babcock, Wilfred A. Roli- 
bins, .1. E. Baker, W. M. Bichard.son. 




I'liiNi; \^ II w 



ui>i m.M H. 



Si 



'GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Maurice L. Wright, .Tnstice of the Xo>v York 
State SuiJii-iuc Court, was Ijoni at Scriba, N. Y,, 
Nov. 27, 1845. He is a descendant of Samuel 
Wright, who emigrated from England with tlie 
Wiuthroii colonv to Massachusetts in Kiiifl. His 
great grandfather, Caleli Wright, was in the liattle 
of Bennington and supplied Irniself with Imllets 
by melting the weights of his eight-day clock. 
On his mother's side Justice Wright is descended 
from Walter Woodworth, a native of Kent, Eng- 
land, who .settled in IMassaehusetts prior to l(i3.5. 
In this line is Captain William Woodworth who 
served under (ien. Washington, and commanded 
the troops in Westchester coiinty, N. Y. His son. 
Major Lott Woodworth was in the waroflslli, 
and commanded his regiment at the battle of 
Plattxbnrgh. 

.Tustice Wright was educated at Mexico academy 
and at Falley fieminary. In ISlU he enlisted iu 
the U. S. Navy. Was a.ssigned to the gunboat 
"Varey City" of the North .\tlantic squadron, 
commanded by Admiral 
Pi rter. He wafi in the 
Roanoke e.vpedition fol- 
low ing the sinking of the 
ram Albemarle by Cush- 
iiig and .saw much lianl 
^ervice. 

After the war he fin- 
ished his education, and 
studied law in the offi e 
of Congressman John C. 
Churchill of Oswego. 
Later he entered the 
(yolumbia Law school in 
New York (^ity. He 
graduated from the Col- 
umbia College La wSchool 
at Washington, I). V.. in 
1S7(I. He was then ad- 
mitted to the bar of the 
Dislrict of Columbia. In 
1(S7U he was admitted to 
the bar of New Y'ork 
state and formed a law 
partnership with Hon. T. 
W. Skinner, at Jlexico, 
N. Y. F(u- twenty years 
he p'acticed law there successfully. In lS7!t he 
was elected president of the village and served 
two terms. In 1883 he was elected county judge 
of Oswego county by the republican party. Was 
reelected in 1S89. Governor Hill appointed him 
a member of the constitutional commission of 
1890, to revise the judic'arv article of the state 
constitution. In ]8!)1 he was elected Justice of 
the Supreme Court, which ottice he now holds. 

Justice Wright is a Mason and a Knight Tem- 
plar. He was three terms Master of Mexico 
Lodge No. I'M'i, F. & A. yi. He was also com- 
mander of the Grand .\rmy Post at ^lexico for 
three terms. On Nov. 3, 18t!'.t, he married Miss 
Marv (irace Skinner, daughter of Judge Skinner 
of I'niou Siiuare, N. Y. Since 181Ki, Justice 
Wright has made his home at Oswego, N. Y. 

Governors of New York. — (Jeorge Clinton 
(UlHter Co.), elected July it, ITTfi: .\pril, 1801; 
John Jay (New York), April 1795; Morgan Lewis 
(Dutchess), .\iiril 1804; Daniel D. Tompkins 




.irixiK .M.xriiU 



(Richmond), .\pril, 1807: John Taylor.Lieut. (iov. 
(Albany), March, 1S17; DeWitt Clinton (New 
York, November, 1817; Nov. 8, 18l>4; Joseph C. 
Y'ates (Schenectady), Nov. t!, 1822; Nathaniel 
Pitcher, Lieut. Gov. (Washington), Feb. 11, 1828; 
Martin Van Buren (Cohimbiaf, Nov. 5, 1Kl>8; Enos 
T. Throop. Lieut. -(iov. (Cayuga) March 12, 1829; 
William L. Marcy (Rensselaer), Nov. 7, 18:VJ; 
William H. Seward (('avuga), Nov. 7, 18:^8: Wil- 
liam C. Bouck (Schoharie). Nov. 8, 1812; Silas 
Wright (St. Lawrence), Nov. 5, 1844;. John Young 
(I>ivingston|, Nov :{, 184t>; Hamilton Fish (New- 
York), Nov. 7, 1848; Washington Hunt (Niagai-a), 
Nov. 5, lh50; Hojatio Sevmour lOueidv), Nov. 2, 
1852; Nov. 4, lsii2; Myron H Clark (Ontario), 
Nov. 7, 1854; John .\. King (Queens), Nov. 4, 1856; 
Edwin 1). Morgan (New York), Nov. 2, 18.58; 
Reuben E. Fenton (Chautau(iua), Nov. 8, 18ti4; 
John T. Hoflfman ( N'ew Y'ork), Nov :!, 18i;,S: John 
A. Dix (New York), Nov. 5, 1872; Samuel J. Til- 
deu (New Y'ork), Nov. if, 1874; Lucius Robinscm 
(Chemung), Nov. 7, 187(5; Alonzo B. Cornell (New 
Y'ork) Nov. 4, 1879; Gro- 

ver Cleveland* (Erie), 
Nov. 7, 1882; David B. 
Hill (Chemung), Lieut. - 
(iov., .Tan. (■), 1885; elected 
Novendier 1885, and re- 
ele teil November, 1888; 
Roswell P. Flower I New- 
York,) Nov.:!. 1M91; Levi 
P. Morton (l)iitch ss), 
Nov. (i, 1894; Franks. 
Black I Hensselaer). Nov. 
8, 189l!; Theodore Roose- 
velt (C^ueens), Nov. 8, 
1898; Benja-nin B. Odell, 
jr., Nov. (i, 19)0; Nov. 7, 
1902. 

•Only NewY'ork govern - 
or elected to ami occu- 
jiying the Presidential 
I'hair l)efore the expira- 
tion of hLs term as 
governor. 

State Officers, New 

York, 191):^— I Elected I 
(iovernor, Benjamin B. 
( )dell, .Jr., Newburg, 
elected Nov. (i, 1901) (second term). Lieut. -(iu v., 
Frank W. Higgins, Olean, Nov, 4, 1902. Sec'y of 
state, .Tohn F. O'Brien, We.st Chazy, Nov. 4, 
1902. Comjilroller, Erastus C. Knight, Buffalo, 
Nov. f), 1902 (2nd term). Trea.surer, John G. 
Wickser, Buflalo, Nov. 4, 1902. Att'y-tien., John 
Cunneen (only democrat), BulTido, Nov. 4, 1902. 
Stjite Engineer, Edward A. Bond, Watertown, 
Nov. 8, 1»98 (:td term), |.\rpoiNTKi>|— Supt. of 
Public Instruction, Charles R. Skinner. Water- 
town, Feb. 13, 1895. Supt. Public Works, 
Charles S. Boyd, New York, l)e<'. 20. 1901. Sujit. 
of In.surance, Francis Hendricks, Svrai'use, Feb. 
12, 1900. Sujit. (if Hanks. Fre<lerick D. Kilburn, 
Mah)ne, .Tan, 8, ISOO. Supt. of State Pri.s.m.s, 
Corneli\i8 V. Collins, Troy, Feb. 9, 1903. Com- 
missioner of Agriculture, Charles .\. Weiting, 
Cobleskill, Aiiril 29, 1X90. State Historian, Hugh 
Hastings, New Y'ork, .\pril 25, 1895. Commis- 
sioner of Labor, .Tohn McMackiu, New Y'ork. 
March f>, 1901. Commissioner of Excise, Patrick 
W. Cullinan, Oswego, May 18, 1901. Supt. of 



WKIGHT. 



■GKIP'S" HISTOKICAL, SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



So 



Halt Springs, t'liarlps Hiscock. I)e Witt. Jan 22, 
IHDI). Supt. of Weights anil Measures, Lewis 
Bos.s, Albany, Feb. 25, 18S4. State Architect, 
George Lewis Heiu'<, New Yo>k, Jan. 20, 1899. 
Supt. Public Buildings, Kol>ert J. Hill. Albany, 
.Tan. 1(), 1901. Supervisor of State Charities, 
Harry H. Bender, Albany, June 9. 1902. 

Jesuit Le Moine at Mexico. 10.54 — One of the 
earliest — prolmbly the first — white man to set 
foot on the present site of Mexico was Chanijilain, 
the French governor of Quebec in 1015. The sec- 
ond was Father Simon Le Moine, the French Jesuit 
who on Aug. 2, 1054, encamped south of the pre- 
sent site of the village. Thisprie.st.icconipaniedby 
Indians landed at Salmon ri\ er the preceding day. 
On the third he proceeded south crossing Oneida 
river on the same day and arriving at the chief 
village of the Onondagas on the 5th. On Aug. 15th, 
after baptising,preaching,healingthe sick andgiv- 
ingChristian burial to the dead for ten days he starts 
on his return to Montreal. His course is by the 



in 1722 on the west side of the river. The Colon- 
ial .\ssembly in 1720 granted :500 pounds to con- 
struct a fort which was reported completed Aug. 
1727. It was described as a stone building HO 
feet squai'e, the eiustern face semi-circular in shajje 
and the walls four feet thick, having port holes 
and provided with water from a deep well. It 
stood on the crest of a knoll on the west i-ide of 
the river, forty feet from the waters of the lak« 
and was reached from the south side by a flight of 
stone steps. An embankment and palisades sur- 
rounded it. The tirst garrison consisted af alieu- 
tenant and 25 men. 

Great Fires— Loudon, Sept. 2-(), 1000, l;f,200 
residences and 89 churches and public buildings 
destroyed. New York, Dec. 10, 18H5, 000 build- 
ings; loss $20,000,000. rittsburg, April 10, 1S15; 
1,000 buildings: loss .S0,000,000. PhUadelphia, 
Julv 9, 1850, 3.50 buildings; loss $1,500,000. St. 
Louis, May 4, 1851; loss $15,000,000. San Fran- 
cisco, May 3-5, 1851; 2, .500 buildings; loss $:^,- 
500,000. "Santiago, Spain, Dec. 8. 1803;2.000i)er- 



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'^^^HHniuii jj^Q 



Huesteii. Photo. 

Top Row— (left t<i 



YOING WOMAXS FOREIGN MISSIOXAKV SOCIETV, M. K. CHIRCH. 

iijlit) Mrs. W. E. Jonion, Miss Enie Berry, Mrs. W. Fish, Miss Lena Hoose. Mrs. F. L. Hoose, 
.Mrs. E". Buniiik. Mrs.W. i)illcnliei-ii,Miss .Vuim Berry. Center Kow-Cleft to rijiht) -Miss May Virgil. Miss Ella Stern- 
bei-f;-. Mi-s. H. \V. Wliitni-y. Mrs. ('. McLyraond, Miss Carrie Crosi<-r. Lower Row— {left to right) Mrs. S. Kanisay, 
Mrs! F. Stewart. .Mrs. K. lii'owii, Mrs. J. Coe, Miss Josepliine Newton. 



way of Oswego river and coasting east in canoes 
the south shore of Lake Ontario. Arriving where 
Oswego now stands on the 20th LeBIoine was 
detained one day by furious winds and rain. t)n 
Aug. 22, 1051, he sets out in his canoe and at 
dusk pulls into the welcomed and safe harbor of 
Little Salmon river (at Mexico Point). There his 
Indians killed a stag and encamiied for the night. 
He was accompanied by one Indian convert and 
several "iiagans," his gniides and jirotectors. "My 
companion and I," he writes of the camp in Mexi- 
co harbor, "content ourselves with looking at 
them while they broil their steak, it being Satur- 
day, a day of abstinence for us." The next day 
the party jjroceeded to Salmon river where there 
was an Indian village, beautiful prairies and good 
fishing. 

Oswego Forts.— The earliest English trading 
house at Oswego was constructed by Gov. Burnet 



sons killed. Portland, Me., July i. 1806; loss 
$15,000,000. Chicago, Oct. 8 and 9, 1871, 1715, 
buildings destroyed; three and one-half sijuare 
mOes of ruins; 200 persons killed; 98,500 made 
homeless. Boston, Nov. 9-11, 1872; 800 buildings; 
loss .$73,000,000; 15 persons killed. St.Johns, N, 
B., June 21. 1870, loss $12,500,000. Brooklyn 
theatre, Dec. 5, 1876; 300 Uves lost. Seattle and 
Spokane, Wash., 1881; loss $10,000,000 each. 

Starr Clark's Tin Shop was Whig head- 
quarters in the village of Mexico fifty or sixty 
vears ago — where Simon's billiard room now is. 
Over sixty years ago Clark was the only man who 
took a daily paper in the village. He was a 
friend and corresjiondent of William H. Seward 
and that gave him a political prestige here. It 
was here that the Whigs gathered to hear the 
late.st news and draw political sustenance from the 
fountain head. 



Sfi 



•GRIP'S" HISTORICAL, SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




lhji-,--lifl, I'liul.i. K. A. I'lluMAS. 

Frederick A. Thomas was lioru in Mexico 
Sept. 10, ISdT. He was eilueiitt-il at Mexico 
Ai'iideiiiy from which institution he gnuluateil iu 
188."). For several years he was interested in news- 
paper work in Mexico, Oswego, Utica and .lack- 
souville, Fla. In M^.rch 18',)2 iiptu the dealli of 
Lis hrother Amos C. Thomas he took charge of 
Toronto and State mills carrying on a large busi- 
ness for six years. In October 18',)(i Toronto 
mill liiirned. It was tilled with an inimen.se 
stock of corn and feed ready for the winter's 
trade and the loss was estimated at $12.(101). 
State mill was also badly damaged. Noth- 
ing daunteil by this loss, the following spring 
Mr. Thomas Imilt a new mill on Toronto's 
old site which he sold to \V. H. Osborn in 
18i»8. The mill is one of the largest and 
most perfectly con.strncted buildings iu this 
part of the state and is considered by mill 
men to be the best arranged mill for a gen- 
eral country trade to be found in the 
country. In ]8'.>H he removed the old State 
mill situated on the oiiposite -side of the 
creek, erecting in its place a uu)dern ]ilan 
ing mill, lifting it with the most modern 
wood working machinery. In connection 
witli this was creeled a saw mill and hoop 
fa(-t<)ry. A large number of men found em- 
Jiloymeiit here at good wages the year 
around. In I'.tOl Mr. 'I'homas erected the 
large building on Main street known as 
the Masonic Temple building — a beautiful 
modern structure .50x8(1 feet two stories 
liigli. On the second tloor Mexico Ijcdge 
No. i;!."), F. iV A. M., Mexico Chapter No. 
18(i U. A. M., Victoria (;hapter No. 205 (). 
K. S. liave rooms second to mine in tlii' 
stjite, taking into consideiaticm the size of 
the town. In imtting vi)) this buihling no 
expense was spared to make it a iierfict 
place for one of its kind and it is with 
tinu-h appaient i>ride that Me.\ico Masonic 
friit«'rnity point out its beauties to their 
visitors. The masons cannot be otherwise 
tlmu gniti'ful to Mr. Tliomius for the in- 
terest and pleasure he took m erecting 



this building for their j)er.sonHl use. July 10, 
liWl, the planing mill, saw mill and hoop 
factory wereentirely destroyed liy tire. This made 
a loss of over $20,000 by fire in a period of five 
years. .Jan. 3, 1902, Mr. Thomas wius obliged to 
make a general assignment, the pro])eity being 
sold to Mr. K. C. Koberison, of Parish. Through 
Ine efforts of Fred Thomas, as he is more fami- 
liarly known, Mexico has the best mill in tlic 
I'ounty and the best appoint.id Masonic Lodge 
looms in Northern New York. ^lexico has always 
bceti his home and it has been his aim to promote 
its commercial and social welfare notwithstand- 
ing he has met with many reverses. His support 
(■f imblic improvement has alway been expected 
and never withheld, he having given freely of his 
time and money. Air. Thomas is an enth sia.vlic 
collector of curios and in his home are many 
choice mementoes of his travels about the United 
States and the country of old ]\Iexico. He is a 
member of Mexico Tjodge, Mexico Chapter, Lake 
( )ntaiio Commnndery, Hyrai'use Council and Media 
Tem])le Shrine. In Nov. IMSS, Mr. Thomi'S mar- 
ried .\nna H. Taylor, daughter of John V. Taylor. 
They ha\e one son, .John F. Thomas. .\t pre 
.sent Mr. Thomas is editing a local weekly paper of 
eight pages, seven columns, called The Jlexican. 

H. R. Huested made all of t'le portraits for 
this work at his Mexico studio, which will con- 
tinue as it has in the past to be opened regularly 
every Saturday. .Ml of his work is fini.shed 
at his new ground Hoor studio, Si<). it. Stone St.. 
Watertown, N. Y., which is newly cipiipped with 
the most modern and up-to-date accessories. 




II. i(. lirrsTKl). 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF IMEXICO. 



87 



Battles Rebellion; when fought ; other faot.s:- 
Antietaiii, Sept. 1(M7, 62. Acqua Creek, May 31, 
61. Avoyelles Prairie, La, May 16, 64. Atlanta, 
bombarded Aug 9, 64 ; occupied by federals Sept 
2: destroyed Nov 14; evacuated Dee 20; Sherman 
entered Dec 21. 

Bull Kuu, 1st, July 18, 61. Bull Run, 2ud, 
July 21, 1)1. Baltimore, attack Mass. 6 inf, Apl lit, 
fil. BigBelhel, Va, JuuelO, 61. Boonville, Mo, 
Ju'je8;61. Balls Bluff, Oct 21, 61. Belmont, 
Nov. 8, ()1. Bottoms Bridge, May 24. G2. Bayou 
de Cache, Ark, July 7, ()2. Baton Rouge, Ark, 
Aug .'■), 62. Ball Run. Aug 29-30, 62. Bakers 
Creek (Vicksburg) May 16, 63. Big Black Rivi r 
Bridge (Vicksburg), May 17, 63. Big Black 
River (Vick.sburg), July 8, 63. Bristow Station, 
Va, Oct 14, (53. Brown's Ferry, Tenn, Oct 26, 63. 
Corinth, JMiss, May 26-28, 62; evacuated liy 
confederates May 29, occupied 1)V federals May 
30; attacked by confederates, Oct 4, 62. Curth-ge, 
Mo, July 5, "61. Carricksford, Va, July 13, 61. 
Clark and Hatteras forts, bonil) and cap, Aug 28, 
61. Cariufex Ferry, Va, Sept 10,61. Cross Keys, 
Va, June 8, 62. Cedar Mountain, Aug 9, 62; 
drawn fight l)etween Banks with 7,000 men and 
Jackson with 12,000. Chantilly, Sept 1, 62; Pope 
vs Jackson. Chancellorsville, Va, Jlay 1-5, 63; 
Hooker vs Lee. Clinton, Miss, May 6, 63. 
Chickamauga, Oa, Sept 19-20, 63. Charlestown, 
S C, l)ombarded Sept 14, 63. Chattanooga, Tenn, 
Nov. 23, (i3. Cane River, Apl 24, 64. Cedar 
Creek, Oct 19, 64. Carlisle, Pa, July 1, 63. Cold 
Harbor, June 1 -3, 64. 

Draft Riots, N Y, July 13-18, 63; Boston.Brook- 
lyn and Jersey City, July 15, 63. Drainesville, 
Va, Dec 20, 61. Dug Spring, Mo, Aug 2, 61. 
Donelson, Feb 12-16, ()2; Grant 40,000 men vs 
Floyd 18,000. Darling, fort, bombarded May 9, 
(i2. Deep Run, Va, Aug 16, 64. Elizalieth City, 
N C, Feb 10, 62. 

Fisher, fort, attacked l>ec 24-25, 64. Franklin, 
Tenn, Nov 30, 64. Fair Oaks, May 31-June 1, 62. 
Fort Craig, N M; Feb 21, 62. Famngton, Miss, 
Mav 9, 62. Front Royal, Va, May 23, (;2. Fay- 
etteville, Ark, July 14, 62; 2nd, Dec 7, 62. Fred- 
ericksburg, Va, cap by Gen Sedgwick May 3, 63. 
Fourteen Mile C!reek (Vicksburg), May 6, 63. 
Fishers Hill. Sept 22. (i4. 

(ireeubrier, Va,Oct3, 61. Galveston, Texas, Jan 
1, 63. Grand Gulf, May 3, 63, cap by Admirall'or- 
ter's fleet; evacuated May 4. Gum Swamp, N C, 
May 22-23, 63. Gettvsburg, July 1-3, 63; Lee re- 
treats July 6. Grant's Va Campaign began May 
3, 64. Guntown, June 10, 64. 

Harpers Ferry, evacuated l)y confederates, .Tune 
14, 61; capt by confederates !Si])tl5, (i2. Hilton 
Head, Nov. 7,61. Henry, fort, captured Feb 6, 
62 by Com A H Foote. Hamjjton Roads, Mch 
8, 62, Merrimac, attack on U S vessels; Mch 9, 
62, Jlonitor defeats Merrimac. Hanover, Pa, 
June 30, 63. 1-u-ka, Miss, Sept 20, (52. 

Jackson, fort, and St Philip, bombarded, begun 
Apl 18, (;2; surrendered Apl 28. James Island, 
June 14, 62. Jackson, Miss, May 14, evacu- 
ated May 16, 63. Kelleys Ford, cavalry liglit, 
jNIch 17, (>3. Kilpatrick's raid on Richmond, Feb 
28-Mch 1-2, 63 Lookout Mountain, Nov 25, 63. 
Lexington, Tenn, Jan 1, 63. Lee's Inva.sion, 
Peun, began Jviue 12, 63; occupied Gettysburg 
26, York 28, Mechanicsburg 28; evacuated York 
30. 

Malvern Hil', July 1, 62. Mumfordsville, Ky, 



Sei)t 14-16; Dec 17, 61. Mill Spring, Ky, Jan 19, 
62; Thomas 13,000 vs Crittenden and Zollicoffer 
10,000. Macon, fort, bond) and cap Apl 25, 62. 
McDowell, Va, May 8, 62. Memphis surr June 
6, 62. MechanicsviUe, Va, 1st, June 26, 62, Mc- 
Clellan defeated by Jackson; 2nd June 27, federals 
recross Cbickahominy. Murfreesboro, Tenn, 
July 13, 62, federals defeated; 2nd, Dec 31. ()2, 
Jan 1, 63; occ by fedends Jan 5. Marysville. .Airk, 
Oct 22, (i2. McAllister, fort, Jan 27, Fel) 1, :M(h 
1, (i3. Monticello, Ky, May 1, 63. Millikens 
Bend, June 6-7, 63. Meclianick.sburg, Pa, occ by 
Lie June 28, 63. Morgans Invasion of Ohio and 
Penn July 8-26, 63; Morgan cap July 26. Mari- 
etta, Ga, occ by Shtniian, July 3, 64. Monocacy, 
July 9, 64. MobUe Bay, Aug 5, (!4. Morgan, 
flit, bomb Aug 22, 1)4, sun- 23. 

New Orleans caji Apl 26. 62. Norfolk, Va, surr 
Mav 10, 62. New Market, W Va, May 15, 64. 
Nashville, Dec 15-16, 64. Opequan, Sept 19, 64. 
Pea Ridge, Tenn, Mch 6 8, 62; Curtiss 22,000 
vs McCuUough 35,000. Pittsburg Landing, Tenn, 
Apl 6-7, ()2. Phillippi, Va, June 2, 61. Pilot 
Knob, Mo, Oct 16, 61. Port Rovid Island, S C, 
Jan 2, 62. Pulaski, bomb anil cap by Hunter 
Apl 11, 62. Port Republic, June 9, 62, Shields 
vs Jackson. Peach Orchard and Savage Station, 
Va, June 29, 62. Popes retreat begun Aug 18, 
62. Pfiryville, Kv, Oct8-9, 62. Port Hudson, La, 
bomb Mch 14, 63'; 2nd bomb May 9-10; 3rd bomb 
May 27-28, June 3, surr July 8. Paris, Ky, July 
29,63. Petersburg, att June 15; mine explosion 
Jidy 30, 64. Peebles farm. Sept 30, 64. Quaker 
Church, June 17, 64. 

Resaca, Ga, May 15, 64. Rich Mountain, Va, 
July 11, 61. Roanoke Island, Feb 7-8, 62. Rich- 



mond, Ky, Aug 30, 62. Ringgold, Nov 

Reams Station, Aug 18; 2nd Aug25. Round Top 

Mountain, Oct 9, 64. 

Sumter, fort, bomb Apl 11-13, 61;bond)l)y 
federals Aug 12, Oct 1, Dec 10, 64. Sewells Pt, 
Va, May 18, 61, federals att rebel batteries; first 
offensive iigainst confederates in the war. Sugar 
Creek, Ark, Feb 17, 62. St Charles, Ark, June 
17, 62. South Mountain, Md, Sept 14, 62. 
Stone River, Tenn, Jan 1-2, 63. Somerville, Ky, 
Mch 30, 63. Sulphur Springs Bridge, Aug 11, 64. 
Strawberry Plains, Aug 14, 64. Sherman's inva- 
sion of (iulf States begun May 6. 64; occ Dal- 
tou. May 14; occ Resaca 15; Kingston 18; Dallas 
28; Culpa farm June 22; Kenesaw and Marietta 
July 3 (see Atlanta) ; orders for march to sea Nov 
9. Spottsylvania, May 10, 64. 

Thompsons Landing (Vicksburg) May 1, 63. 
Tuscumbia, Ala, Oct 21, 63. Trevillian Station, 
June 11, 64. 

Vicksburg, (irants army invests May 18, 63; 
fortifications assaulted May 19; complete in ves-t- 
ment 26; Grants ultimatum unconditional sur- 
render May 21; general as.sault May 26-22; bomb 
May 22-25J 31, June 20; surr July 4; federals caji- 
ture 31,000 men commanded by Pemberton. 

Wilsons Creek, Mo, Aug 10, 61 ; Lyons vs JIc- 
Cullough. Winchester, Va, Mch 23,' ()2; 2nd July 
31. 63. Wright, fort, Apl 14, 62, May 10, 62. 
West Point, Va, May 7, 62. While House, Va, 
evac by McClellan J'une 24, 62. White Oak 
■Swamp, Va, June 30, 62. Wagner, fort, assaulted 
Sept 4, 63; cap Sept 6. White Suljjhur Springs, 
Va, Oct 10, 63. Wilderness. 1st day, May 5, 64 

Yorktown, bomb by McClellan begun Apl 30, 
()2; evac by confederates jMay 4. Yazoo City, 
Miss, cap b'y federaLs ^May 13, 63. Yellow Bayon, 
La, May 18, 64. 



88 



"GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



The Colosse Cornet Band claims the dLs- 
tini-tioii of being tlio dldcst iKinil in the county, 
hiiving been organized in the summer of 1873 and 
fully keoi>ing up the organization ever since. 
Only Sl'*^-"" wa,s first at the (li.s])osal of the band. 
Part of the instrunipiits were purchased of the 
old 48th regimental band, having been used by 
them during tlie war of tlie rebellion. The ori- 
ginal members were Stanley .T. House, C'has. W. 
House, Hamuel C. Perlet, S])encer H. Webb, 
Theodore (lothier, Alfred W. Culkins. Kobt. H. 
Bilker, Alfred W. Ricbardsou, W. M. Kichardscm, 
H. L. Huntley and W. J, Kowc. The present 
meniber.ship consists of Chas. W. House, Stanley 
J. House, Bert Hou.se, Fred W. House, Arthur 
Jaquin, Fr.m'c aqui". Henry C. Le Clair, C'eleste 
Henry, (ieo. .7. Loren, Henry]). Nichols, C'has. 
Hamraeckir. Norn an .\lger, Frank Henry -Tr., 
Julius TacUhy, I'liinuce Booth, Elbert Pettin- 
gale, Aitliur Beley, U. S. Davey, Hubert (iardincr, 



mis- ion at Onondaga, the French governor having 
madt" them a grant of a hundred scjuare leagues of 
land m the heart of the Iroquois country. To- 
wards the last of June they sailed into Lake On- 
tario and the following day lauded at La Famine 
where they went into (piarters )>utting up bark 
huts a' d lireparing to stay several ilays )irior to 
their overland trii> south. They found them- 
selves at the mouth of a broad river, which they 
knew to possess an abundance of salmon trout, 
ami where they hoped to get enougli food to last 
them to the end of their journey. It was not an 
entirely new sjiot to them since tliey had pre- 
viously stopped there. But the river was at this 
time very high and while their provisions con- 
tinued to diminish in spite of their ett'orts to ob- 
tain more tish they were too nearly famisheil to 
continue their journey withoutin some way obtain- 
ing more food. Finally they were forced to ex- 
plore the fields and wooils for berries. All of 
tlicir Indians deserted them and to make matters 




MiM'sri'il. I'hiitii 



THK CDLOSSE ((IK.MOT H.V.MI. 



Tup l((.w-(lcft ti> lijfht) Elbert IVtteiiKill, Arllnir .)ai|iiiii. I'll li lliinse, Hiiuy I). Xlchole, Heniy C. LeClalr. 
tJlareure Kiioth, .lohn Cobb. Middle How— Stankj .1. House, Frank Jaqiiin, Georjte Loren. Charles W, Henise, 
Hubert Gardner, ITraiik Heiir.v .Ir., N. N. Al(?er. Lower Kow— Celeste Heiu-y, Charles Hammeeker, .Tiilhm Tackli'y. 



Elmer Cottet and ('li.is. Alsever. The members 
of this baud arc reipiired to sign ii contract not to 
touch liquor wliilc out on a job. 

Jesuit's Name La Famine. — The moutli of 
the Salmon river was one of the earliest known 
resorts for French and Indian fisliing parties. It 
was while a party of Jesuits were on their way to 
the country of the Onondagas that they .stop]ied 
several days at La Famine to rejileuish tlicir suji- 
plies by lisliiug. Tlie party consisted of four 
.Icsuit iirie.sts, Le Mercicr, the superior, Dabloii. 
Men U'll and Fremin, aceomiianied by tliirty or 
fortv other Frenchmen and escorted liy Maj. 
Zacuary Du I'uys, the c(uuniandant of the fort at 
Quebec and ten of liis .soldiers. There were also 
a few Hurons, ( )noiidagas and Senecius, converts 
from the Jesuit missions. It was May 17, ll!')!}, 
when the expedition set out from Quebec. The 
object of the journey was to establish a Jesuit 



worse the Father Sui>erior, to whose ettbrts alone 
were due th<! confidence and ability of the jiarty 
to thus far keep up, fell ill and for a tiuie his life 
was despaired of. .\t last it became imperdt vcly 
necessary to resume the journey and with vows 
made to their favorite .saints Ih. y departed, first 
giving to the spot where nearly the whole party had 
siuu'umbed to starvation the name of La Famine. 

Lakes, Area. — Superior, iililt miles long; :!'J,- 
llOil sipiare miles. Baikal, ;i7() long; 17,7."iO sip m. 
Michigan. H40; 22,400. (beat Slave, :{0I): 8,0(1(1. 
Winiiiiieg, '_>ii4: S,.5(10. Huron, 'JoO; 21,0(1(1. Erie, 
240; i»,(!(10. Athabiusca, 2:i(l; 4,(;(lll. Ontario. lilll; 
(i.aoil. Nicarangua, 11(1; 2,8:^0. Maraeavbo. Kill; 
7,.'')(l(l. (h-eat Bear, 1.5(1; 14.000. Ladoga, 120; 
l!,H04. Champlain, ]2l>; ],.')(«). Lake of the 
Woods, 8.j; 7,050. (ireat Salt liOke, ilO; 2,2i)0. 
t'onstancts 44; 200. Geneva, 5:!; 4it(l. George, 
:!li; 110. Cayugo, a8; 104. Utah, 24; 130. 



■GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 




Coiirti'SV nl" Ri-v. S. S. llidw.'ll. 

THE COLUSSE BAPTIST CHURCH, BUILT 1834. 
The first chiircli ediftce erected in Oswej^o county (still 
standing.) The body of Rev. Gamaliel Barnes, the lirst pastor, 
is buriLd in the cemetery back ot the church. 

Oneida Lake Mythology. — Iroquois tradi- 
tion make.s Oueida lake the pliise where the earth 
was createil; A woman descending from the high- 
er world of light ni)on amatfrassintothesea of the 
lower world (chaos) — a world peopled with mon- 
sters — was received upon the back of a Luge turtle 
which had jwepared for her a couch l>y varnishing 
his shell with earth. And this turtle increased in 
size and became a considerable islaml of earth, 
apparently covered with small bushes, which was 
Great Island. And the woman gave birth to 
twins, one of a gentle disposition, Enigorio, the 
good mind, and the other which possessed an in- 
solence of character, Enigouhahetgea, the bad 
mind. To the former is due the creation of the 
sun (from his mother's head) which Hooded the 
world with light by day; the moon (a fragment of 
his mother's liody) which gives light at night: 
numerous spots of light called stars; and all good 
things in the universe — streams, game and other 
necessities and enjoyments of the Indians. And 
after preparing this Eden for the red men, Eni- 
gorio was in doubt respecting some lieing to jios- 
sess the Great Island; and he formed two images 
of the ground in his own likene-ss, a male and a 
female, and by his breathing into their nostrils he 
gave them living souls, and named them EA- 
GWE-HOWE, i. e. the real people, mean- 
ing of course the Iroquois. But what became 
of the bad mind. Cusick, the native Iroijuois 
historian, says that when Enigorio turned 
on the light the monsters .sought to hid. 
themselves in dark caverns; and the bad 
mind liiiilt hills and mountains, falls of 
water, great steeps, various reptiles— all of 
those things which lay obstructions iu the 
path of the Indian and make his hunting 
more diihcult. And the bud mind en- 
deavored to copy the good mmds creation. 
His images of earth turned (JUt to be In- 
dians, but not the Iroquois, who like the 
Israehtes were chosen of the Great Manitou. 
After a great battle Itetween the good and 
the bad minds — God and the Devil — the 
latter is tlriven down to eternal doom and 
the good sjjirit retired from the earth to his 
celestial regions above. 



Size of Large Bodies of Water. — 

Oceans— Pacitic, .S(),()O0,()(M) sq. miles; Atlan- 
tic, 40,000,000; Indian, 20,000,000; South- 
ern, 10,000,000; Arctic, .'5,000,01)0. Seas- 
Mediterranean, 2,000 miles long; Caribbean, 
1,800; China. 1, 700; Red.l, 400;. Japan. 1,000; 
Black, 932; Caspian, 640; Baltic, GOO; 
Okhatsk, 600; White, 450; Aral, 250. 
Lakes — Superior, 360 by 120 mUes in area; 
^Michigan, 840 by 60 miles; Ontario, 100 by 
40; Erie, 270 by 50; Huron, 250 by 00; 
C!hamplain, 126 by 12; Cayuga, 36 by 4; 
(ieorge. 36 by 3; Baikal, 360 by 35; Great 
Slave, 300 l)y 45; "Winnipeg, 240 by 40; 
Athabasca, 200 by 20; Maracaybo, 150 by 
60; Great Bear, 150 hy 40; Ladoga, 125 by 
75; Constance, 45 by 10; Geneva, 5.i liy 10; 
Lake of the Woods, 70 by 25. 

Great Bells, the weight, viz: — "Great 
Bell, "Moscow, 44;i, 732 pounds; St. Ivans, Moscow, 
127,.S:^0 pounds; Pekm, 120,000 pounds; Vienna, 
40.200 i>ounds; Olmutz, Bohemia, 40,000 pounds; 
Rouen, France, 40,000 pounds; St. Pauls, Lon- 
don, 38,470 pounds; "Big Ben," Westminister, 
30,350 pounds; Montreal, 28,560 pounds; St. 
Peter.s, Rome, 18,600 pounds; Liberty Bell, Phila- 
delphia, cast in London in 1752, weighs 2,(100 
liounds. It was cracked the first time it was 
used in 1753 and «as recast in Philadeljjhia the 
.same vear. A few vears after the Revolution it 



was cracked again while being rung. 

]Hountains,New York -Altitude and locality, 
viz : — Adikonpacks : — Marcy, 5,467 feet, Mcln- 
tyre, 5,183, McMartin, 5,000, and Dial (Nipple), 
4,600 in Essex county; White Face, 4,855, Clinton 
county; Seward, 4,000, Franklin county. Cat- 
skills:— Round Top, 3,801, High Peak, 3,718, 
Pine Orchard, 3,000, Green cjunty; Shawangunk, 
1,866, Orange county. Butter Hill, 1,520, Old 
Beacon, 1,471, Breakneck, 1,187, Anthony's Nose, 
1,128. Isolated: — Defiance, (ne.u- Ticonderoga) 
750, Essex county ; Palisades, 550, Rockland Co.; 
Fort Putnam (near West Point). 500, Orange Co. ; 
Harbor Hill, 319, Long Island; Richmond Hill, 
Stateii Island, 307. 




rourtesv of Rev. S. S. Bidwell. 

THE FIRST SURROGATE'S OKKICE [at Colosse) 
iiSWEGo COUNTV rstill slandins!'!. 



90 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOmTENIK OF MEXICO. 




Ol.l I'buliis. I.K\1 MATTHEWS. 

SOLOMO.V M.\TTHKWiS. GEOKGE I'. M.\TT1IE\V 

Levi Matthews wus liorn in Mas.sachiisetts, 
Dec. ;», 1771. Ill 17!).S lie luiinied Kel leeoa Walk- 
er and about two years later they came to the 
town of Mexico, taking a farm where they lived 
the lialauce of their lives, raising ten children. 
Mr. Matthews, besides being a successful farmer, 
conducted a grist mill which stood on the west 
shoie of Little Salmon river in the village of Mex- 
ico, where one of the Osborn mills now stands. 
His integrity in business matters gave him the 
iiiune of "the honest miller." Mr. Matthews was 
a strong temjiei'ance advocate and an active Pres- 
byterian and gave liberally towards repairing the 
oid chuivli in ISft, of which he was one of the 
charter members. He 
was one of tlio.se who or- 
ganized thiOrasoniclodge 
in Shuabel.Mfrcd's house, 
in ]«0.S. A niece of his, 
a graduate of Oberlin 
college, was for years 
])romiuent on the lecture 
jilatform in advocacy of 
woman suHrage. He 
died April 24, LSlU, and 
his wife. May bi. bS.jH. 

Solomon Matthews, a 
son of Levi, was bom 
on the the farm in the 
town of Mexico, .Tune 21, 
lull, and wh<>ii about 2;! 
jears old went to Deni- 
erevtville, ('anada, where 
lie engaged in the trade 
of a cooper, making bar- 
rels. In March, l.S.ill, he 
married Susan Dorlaiid, 
who died in 1844. On 
Feb. 11, IS-J.-), he wedded 
Amy Clark and in ^Nlarch, 
1H47, they removed to 
Afexieo. Four children 



wei-e the fruit of this marriage. Mr. 
^Matthews wa.s the superintendent of tb(! 
^lexico and Oswego plank road and of the 
county fairs, each five years. Ife wna a 
member of and liberal contributor to the 
I'lesbyti-riiin church. Mr.^f. wa.s a conrte 
ons, obliging man. always cheerful and 
having a ])leasaiit word for all. He died 
M-.ircU 2."i, lSil2. 

(ieoige Paschal Mattliews,son of Solomon, 
was born .V)iril "i, IS."):!, on the farm which 
he still nnns. On Oct. 2.">, bS77, he married 
i;\a A. ^lillcr. Thev moved to the village 
of Mexico, April 1. I'.S'.M. 

The Show Window. The growth of a 
town incrca.ses jirojierty valuations, enlargi-s 
file circumference of local trade and expands 
iciital values. It increases church and 
school attendance. It jirovides more months 
to be fed, more bodies to be clothed, more 
people to l)e amused. Competition between 
<'ommunities is to-day as stirring a.s between 
tradesmen. The latter <lisplays his goods 
^ and adverti.ses their values. Why may not 

the formerV The Ilistoricid Souvenir is the 
show window for a community. The character of 
its jniblic institutions, its scenery, its enterprises, 
and its places of business and recreation disjilayed 
to the world in half tone engravings will do for 
the community what the show window and the 
local newsj^aper advertising column do for the 
merchant. If every family in Mexico Las mailed 
one of these Souvenirs, who can doubt what the 
publication is worth to Mexico. 

The First marriage in the town of Mexico 
was that of the widow of Nathaniel Rood and 
Richard Gall'ord which occurred in 17iilt, the year 
after the bride's first husband was lost in the lake. 








Till-; 



I' M.\TiiiE\vs hi:,-<ii>i;ni i 

M A'niii;\vs iioMES'i'EAii. .\(i\v IN iHi; 11111(11 gi;nkh.\iii>n. 



"GBIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



91 



The State Legislature consists of a senate 
with fifty uuMiihci-s and an assemlily with \M 
mpmbevs. Both houses are required by the eon- 
stitutiou to meet aunu;i]ly on the first Wednesilay 
in Jamnry, the legislative term anil political 
year to begin .Tanaary 1. The senators serve two 
years and the assemblymen one year. No restric- 
tion is placed on the duration of the annual ses- 
sions. The annual salary of senators and assem- 
blymen is the same, Sl.-'iOn, with an extra allow- 
ance of ten cents a mile going to and returning 
from the capital over "the most u.snal route" once 
during the session. No member of the legislature 
shall receive a civil appointment of any character. 
X majority of either house constitutes a ipiorum 
for doing Imshiess, except on the final jiassage of 
l>ills carrying apiiropriaticms, ccealing debt or 
inii)osing a tax, when it is neces.sary for three- 
fifths to be present, and has the exclusive right to 
make its own rules and be the judge of the elec- 
tions returns and (naalifjcations of its own mem- 
bers. Either hous(> has the right to clo.se its doors 
again.st the public and may at any time .shut out 
the whole or any part of the press from getting 
the proceedings. Neither house can adjourn for 
more than two days without the consent of the 
other. For any speech or deljate the meml)ers 
shall not be questioned by any outsider; and all 
members are exempt from ai'rest. 

Planets. — St'N, diameter, 8:22,000 miles; re- 
volves once in 2.5 days, 8 hours, 10 miuTites. Mek- 
cuBY, diameter, 8,1.50 mile?; revolution aljoul the 
SunmSSd; diurnal revolution (length of day) 1 
d, h, 5 m; distance from the Suu, :).") millions of 
miles. Venus, diameter, 7,718; revolution, 225 d; 
diurnal, 23 h, 21 m; distance, (56 millions. Earth, 
diameter, 7,91(); revolution 3()5l d; diurnal, 23 h, 
5(5 minutes; distance, 91 millions. Moon, diame- 
ter, 2,1G0 miles: revolution .about the earth in 27 
d, 7 h, -^^ m; distance from the earth 237,000 
miles; the lunar month, from one conjunction to 
the Sun to annthur, is 20 d,12 h, 14 m, 2 s. M.Mis, 
diameter, 1.093; revolution, (iS7 d; diurnal, 1 d, 
h, 37 m; distance, 139 millions. Fn)n.\, diame- 
ter not given; revolution, 1,139 d; diurnal not 
given: distance 201 millions. Hyueia, diameter 
not given; revolution, 2,011 d; diurnal not given; 
distance 288 millions. Jupiter, diameter, 85,9(i8; 
revolution, 1,3:52 d; diurnal, 9 h, 55 m; distance, 
575 millions. S.vruRs', diameter, 79,013; revolu- 
tion, 10,759 d; diurnal, 10 h, 10 iii; distance, S7] 
millions. Uhanu.", diameter, 31,292: revolution, 
:!0,().S7 d; diurnal not known; distance 1,752 mil- 
lions. Neptunf, diameter. 37,000; revolution, 
00,127 d; diurnal not known; distance. 2,713 mil- 
lions. AsTEKOiiw, a system of upwards of a hun- 
dred planets thus far discovered ranging in diam- 
eter, each, .so far as is known, from 50 to 2:30 miles, 
occupying a belt about 200 million miles wide 
and averaging in distance from the Sun from 200 
millions to 301; millions of miles. The four largest 
are Ceres, PaUas, Juno and Vesta. 

Vote, New York State— In 1900 McKinley re- 
ceived 821,992, Bryan 678,387, Malloney (socialis- 
tic-labor) 12,622, Woollev (proh.) 22,013 and Debs 
(Soc-dem) 12,68i). 

In 1902 Odell received 665,150, Coler 65,5,:398, 
Manierre (proh) 20,190, DeLeon (Soc-labor) 15,- 
88i;, Hanford (Soc-dem) 23,100 and Rider (Lil)- 
eral-dem) 1,894. 



High Structures of the World.— Eiffel, Paris, 

984 feet: Washington, Washington, 5.55; Pyra- 
mid of Cheops, Egypt, 486; Antwerp Cathedral, 
Belgium, 47(;; Stra.sbiirg Cathedral, Germany, 174; 
Pyramid of Ce])hrenes, Egypt, 456; St. Peter's 
church, Rome, 118; St. Martin's church, I.iand- 
shut, Germany, 111; St. Paul's church, Loudon, 
:!65; Salisbury Cathedral, England, 400; Cathed- 
ral, Florence, Italy, :!S7; Cathedral, (!remona, 
Lombardy, .iOG; Cathedral, Fribourg, Germany, 
386; Cathedral, Seville, Spain, 3<)0; (Cathedral, 
Milan, Lombardy, :3.55; (lathedral Uti-echt, Hol- 
land, 35l!; Pyramid of Oakkarah, Egyj)t, 356, 
t'athedral of Notre Pame, Jlunich, Bavaria, 348; 
St. Mark's church. Venice, 32.S; Assiuelli Tower. 
Bologna, Italy, 272; Trinity church. New York, 
281; Column'at Delhi, Hindoostan. 262; Church 
at Notre Dame. Paris, 224; Bunker Hill Mmm- 
ment, Boston, 221; Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy, 
179; Washington Monument, Baltimore, 175. 
^lonument, PLace Vendome, Paris, 153; Trajan's 
Pillar, Rome, 151; Obeli.sk of Luxor, Paris, 110; 
Egyptian Obelisk, New York, (i9. 

Wars of the world — Cost in lives and money 
18,55-1880:— Crimean, 150,000 lives ;$1, 700,000,000. 
Italian, 45,0.)0 lives; $300,000,001). Schleswig- 
Holstein, 3,000 lives; $35,000,000. American, 
Civil, Union. 280,000 lives; $4,700,000,000. Amer- 
ican Civil, Cimfederate, .520,000 lives; $2, :!OO,O00,- 
000. Prussia- Austria, Italian, 45,000 lives; $330,- 
000,000. Expeditions in Mexico, Cocliin-C'hina, 
Morocco, Paraguay, (;5,000 lives; ,$200,000,000. 
Franco-German, France 155,000 lives; tiermanv, 
()0,000; total cost, $2,600,000,000. Russia-Turko, 
225.000 lives; $1,100,001), 000. Zulu-and-Atghan, 
40,000 lives; .$50,000,0.00. 

Frozen Raspberry Juice. — Mash two quarts 
of red raspberries and cover them with three heap- 
ing cupfuls of granulated sugar. Let this stand 
in a warm pl.ace for an hour, then press through 
a cheesecloth bag or a vegetable press to extract 
all the juice. To this add the juice of three 
lemons, one orange, and two cpiarts of cold water. 
Stir well together and freeze. Some persons put 
a spoonful of ^\hil)ped cream upon each glass of 
this ice. The contrast of the white with the jjink 
is very pretty. 

Directory, June, 1903. — Town Officers- 
Supervisor: E L Huntnigtou. Town Clerk: N D 
Hart Justices: W C Sliumway, AV A Robbins, 
Charles House, A J Rose. Commissioner of High- 
ways: Grove Halsey. Trustee Town Hall: 
W'L AI irgan. Cims-tables: SL Alexander, W S 
Sweetlaud, Ira Marks, Levi Dawley. Poormaster: 
Roliert Ah\\. A.ssessors: J E Jones, William Buck, 
George Patten Collector: Theodore Green. 

ViLLAiiE Offu'ers — I'rcsideut — George H Wil- 
son. Trustees: Dr S :\I Bennett and C E Hare. 
Clerk: Alvin Richardson. Street Commissioner: 
J E Baker. Collector: Joseph Brown. Treasurer: 
Charles A Peck. Police Constables: Jasper Cole, 
RL Houghton. Board of Education: President, K 
H Baker; Secretary, JMrs George A Davis; Mrs E 
S Taylor, Dr C W Radway and J W Ladd. 

Court Crier: W A Tillapaugh. 

Postmaster: W H Richardson. 

R.adi-oad Agent: A K MattUewson. 

Express .\gent: John Porter. 

Clergy: M D Sill, Methodist; George Bayless, 
Presbyterian; S S Bidwell, Baptist; J W Hawkins, 
Episcopal. 



APR 

9-2 



1 2 1904 



'GRIP'S" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO. 



Attorneys: T W Skinner; George H GoodTrin; 
J A Jolmaon; C I Miller; George W Biadn.r; W 
C Sbuinway; R L Simons. 

Hiiuk : Tlie First National. 

I5arl)ors: M. .Fetterv; Chatlwick & Allen; John 
Freeman; U (i Ruck. 

Bicycle Repnirinf;: H H Dobsou: Herliert .\(1- 
ams ; J C Tavlor. 

Rillanls: W H Simons. 

Blncksniiths: R L Houghton; (icor^e Consene; 
Cliuiles Shar|i; .\Itre(l Hollislcr: Jacoh Sharra; 
Wm DillenhiH'k; \Vm (iustiu; M Manwaren. 

Rus and Bat,'gage; Lansing A- Avery. 

Cartman, William Fish. 

Canning: Cteorge \\'ilson. 

Can-iage Painting: L \ Whitney. 

Cheese Buyer: R. H. Baker. 

Creamerv: Rosemary Co. 

Coal Dealer: E S Taylor: Hartwell .V GiU. 

Dentists: H W Whitney; A CLindsley. 

Evaporator: George A Davis; Henry Cole. 

Flour and Feed: W H Osborn, Charles Everts. 

Foundry: L J Clark. 

Harness: Jacob Brown; (J B (Jusack; B W 
Pond ; M Stone. 

Hotels: Boyd House; Mexico House. 

Insurance: E J Parmelee; George Stone; C 1 
Miller; Edward A Hollister. 



Laundry: Jed Hager. 

Ijivery: R H Green; Elon Van Sickle. 

Lumber: H .\nies; Stevens Bros. 

Merchants: E Hollister, (ieorge McDonald, W 
Mcliityre, C Hayden, grocers; (Joe \- Hogoljooni, 
W Bra'cy, meats; H C Peck's Sou, Cook A' Jordan, 
i' E Hare \- Co, K Brown, di-y goods; W W 
Kingsley, W P (ia.ss, fiimiture; J C Taylor, N D 
Hart, drugs; H H Dobson, Milo (iraves, PDidier, 
jewelry; B S Stone A Co, L B Ballard, W B Pond. 
W H Norton, hardware: E S Taylor, boots and 
shoes; Mrs M .\ Barker, books. 

Milliner; Miss .Manwaren; Mrs C H Everts; 
.laeob A: Longstreet. 

Monuments: F L Kellogg; George Salladin. 

Painters: Charles Fellers: Jes.se Stone ; Monroe 
Griffin; Daniel Wyant; M Hemstreet. 

I'hotogiaiiher: H R Huested. 

Printing; Mexico Independent; The Mexican. 

Physicians: C W Radway; S M Bennett; (i F 
Sniith; (ieo P .lohu.sou: .1 H Huntington; E S 
Sampson; D T Stow; T J (ireen. 

Restaiu'ant: Myron Stone. 

Slioemakers: David Dempster; Tom Pepper. 

Stock Farm: Ira S Hosford; A S Tubbs; Wil- 
liam Buck. 

Undertakers: W H Pentield; John Porter. 

Veterinary Siu'geon: F Fowler. 

Wagons: MiUer Spring Wagon Co. ; B W Pond. 



INDEX TO "GRIPS" HISTORICAL SOUVENIR OF MEXICO 



Academy "'• 

Asscmlily, Meinliei's .lii 

Allies •*•* 

Ancient Cities ~s 

Areopagus dull 7.5 

Itusiness Men, I'rior IHTII ;ill 
llaptist riiurcli :ii;-.\i(l Se- 
cicty 4T— in nswiKO ('ii:i"i 
— Cliiistian Eml "iS-Ooi- 
ca-s a+ 
Hnylstun tract |il 

Uurrows, ■*-** 

Ualiecick, Gciirtre '.'■} 

UriKiit Snyin^rs '»T 

ItiTrv, A D l^i 

Uak«r„Iirunu' i«i -HH.Ucs.s.) 
Uells, Great .si> 

lirown, .1 T ijs 

]lc<|uillar(l, Louis 7S 

llattles, KelielHon ST 

('onjfrcKatiuniil cli, 1st in 

Mcxicii :t! 

Clark, I.. I s-.' 

Cradle of Societies :tti 

Colosse :Ji-Hapcli -Jll-Cor- 

net liaiid ss 
Clianiphiin in Mexico IS 

Cenietery :Jf 

Chirk, Stiirr 'S.'! 

Coiniiion I'liiis, Isl Court, 
1st .lury Dist ll'i-lst 
Court. *Jnd .liir\- Dist -V) 
Count \ .ludi^^es T.'t— .luilKcs 
special 71— Seat (.iiieetion 
I. -Clerks 111- Treasures L'd 
Court of .Vppeals Jud>res 4- 
CookillKl'lui) -'t 

Cusiick, (i It lil 

Deserters -7 

District Atfys il'i 

Distances. Drivin>r 4S 

Dri^l^s, .loliii 'Si 

Dolison. )l H 71 

Davis. I'liiiieas, Ites W 

K.pldenilcs U'l 

Earthworks, Historic Ti 

Kini^rants :1H 

Eastern Star II 

Episcopal cli :is 

EducaticMl, Hoard ol "11 

Kerrls. E D :17 

Fire Departnicnt -1— the 
First :ri-prlor lsi)<i:tl-of 
•iM 4n-ifieal s.", 
First KlaK~4-Sta>ret 'naeli 17 
— \'illa>fe school .'il —town 
ftchool .Vi— Uoad .'►8— Town 
invetlnK 4'J— Town Hoard 
42— Hlrtli :IT— Marrl 



'M 



(10 



SI 



Highway 



HKclKl 
Hank III 



Store :i7— Hotel i;4-Mail 
Route .'iS— Town ollieers 
•"w— County olticers 47— 
Miesionar.N' 47— I*ostolliee:Jii 
Faculty, school 
French, Geo G 
(! A K 
Granjfe 
Goodwin, G H 
(lun. larifi'st 
Governors. .N V 
Grucn, U 11, lies 
Humphries, Henry 
Heatini, W C .'iii-tJr C E 
lluntiim'ton. E L 
Hoose, .jeilcdiah 
Hutidilnson 
Huested. H K 
Holel, Historic 
Hij^'h St iMU'tiires 
llajjer. .led 
HouffhtiMi, It I, 
IndependeMl SiatT 
Indians, yrreat trail 
.Iiistices, Session 'vt— peace 
.>4 — associate Common 
Pleas 'yi 
.lerrv Uescue :UI 

.lohnson. ,1 A 4S-G W 48- 

Dr G l':).-i 
.lesuit I,eMoincat .Mexico 
s.'>— at Colosee .s;i— Name 
La Fauiinc SS 
KiIlain..\rti'ou \- .\ar<inji- 7:1 
Klnttsley, W W Kll 

Law^■ers. prior 1S.'»4 ;{| 

Lakes of N V 4."i— the world SH 
l.cifislature id 

Mexico, Hietorv :i-(irl>ri- 
nal Owners 70-Descrip- 
tioii ^•— country Itll.'i, :;4— 
SoclctylS(L',L'7— ot 17!e.s- 
ol' ITlia l:i— mother id' 
towns 4 -Genealogy i:t— 
Independent ai-iii IsiH! 
:K— Ini'orporated :,'7— in 
1K24 Is-Nutsaiid Fruits :t.' 
Maiiulacturers.eMrl\ :!1 

Military Tract :!S 

Milcoiiih I'uri-liase ,'VI 

Matthews G 1' IK) 

Mills, earliest :17 

M !•; Church .Vi -I'rimary 
Cla.sH 'ui — Lonjrsl reel's 
Class .'it — \'inrirs Class .'>4 
Cnidle Class 7'.I-\V H M Si 
V \V F Msk •-'.•. -Epworlh 
League :)ti— Dorcas ."kS — 
W FM 44 V W F M K.'i 

Mason.* 10 



Mounta'ns of N Y, height .SH 
Miller. Lewis (Ml— Sprinjj 

WaKon Co (d-C 1 -Vi 

Naines.Noted 28— Oritrlnal .11 
Normal schools til 

Oneida Keservation ;ls 

(Mhcers ill Keliellioii 4:i 

( >swevro.*»4— Forts s.',— ( iriirin 

of Name L's 
Ihieida Lake7t--Myth I'ifv SH 



odd Fellows 
Oaliiun. W II 
Orvis, S It 
Prattliam 
I'resli>'teriai 



eh 41-Mis- 

Hi'uarv .\id 24--Friinarv 
(hiss.-il-W M 40 

Physicians, prior IS.III :il 

Pii'iiicer lost 4(V-ln Oswego 

count \- .'17 
Pcnlield, W H 114 

Parmelee, V. .1 -"til 

Planets 111 

Presideiiis. \-ilIa>re IK 

Postonicc Corner, Old ll!i 

Postmasters. Mexico s;t 

Pond, I! \V 71 

Kooscvelt Patent a* 

I! It County 4:1 

Ilehek^hs i:i 

Itumlcll. .\untie :I7 

Ilichanlson. \V M .■■7 

Itohliins. W .\ 4!i 

Iteccipts. cake -Vs — chicken 
salad («>— Frozen liasp- 
lierrv .luici^ Id— Trout i'r(i 
Stone. li S (i;-S H as 

Sill, Itcv M D .".2 

Sampson, .\ L A: V. S (12— G 

H\-C Eisi 
States, Origin Names 7s.- 

ollieers N Y S4-Itoiid 70 
Supreme C^ourt 7S 

Street Views .T-T, 17, 18 



Skinner, .\vcrv lil-T W K 

Smith. DA: L'Jt'r-Drt! F 4.5 

Scrilia's Patent 12S 

Suramils, heitrlit, (See 
Water Sheds) 42 

State Senators 21 

Show Window SO 

Salmon Itiver Li^rlit House 
17— Earl of Selkirk 40-- 
Gcn Van It at .10 

Sftlmon Fishing: 2S 

Soldier's Monuincllt :12 

Supervisors 

SurrO}rates 7'>— Special 7:i— 
First Four 7:1 

Sherills 

Salt Uoad 

Stevens Hros 

Strawlierrles 

Towns, erection 

Texas 

Town, Silas 

Trustees Village 

ThlmtileCluli 

Tryon County 

Taylor, .1 C \- Son 

Thomas. F A 

T'nderirround Station 

\'era Cm/, 

Vote. N V State 

Wellwood 

W.dv.s 

W CT r 

W HC 

Watersheds, h't, (s 'e Sum- 
mits 4.s— size larjfe bodies sit 

Whitney's Tavern 

Wilson. G H — 

Wee.l.UcvTA SI 

Whiluev. H W 7.1 

Wars of the World al — 
.\mericuii .so 

Writrht, .M L S4 



1« 



W 



g<>-^- John Treeman ^ 

Tor a first'Class Shave and 
Up=to=date lyair Cut <r <f 

Jill kinds hair work done to order. Shop In 
Utmpster Block. 



K S 07 



